Hong Kong's newest opera house makes waves with an aluminum fin facade

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Xiqu Cultural Center, located at

Kowloon has developed into a regional hub for traditional Chinese opera. The project was designed by Vancouver and Hong Kong construction companies

, Inspired by thorough theater curtains. About 13,000 bends

The fins are arranged in a series of waves, covering all elevations of the structure.

The project rises to a box-like space surrounding a multi-level entrance atrium and performance space. The fluidity of the facade is combined with the subtle openings in each corner to form a dynamic shell filled with natural light. The project cost more than US$300 million and is the first of dozens of cultural centers planned in the area around the newly opened West Kowloon Railway Station.

The dimensions of each panel are about the same, about 8 feet wide and 20 feet high.

Cut marine grade aluminum. Due to the use of marine-grade aluminum, the facade can withstand Hong Kong's strong and humid environment and naturally corrode aluminum products that are weaker.

Venelin Kokalov, head of Revery Architecture, said that the goal of projecting a natural look is very important to the design team. "The original design was based on copper, and it turned out to be too expensive. This prompted people to look for ways to use more common materials (such as aluminum) and a way to demonstrate its natural qualities." So far, aluminum is Sandblasted with glass beads, not painted or glazed with paint.

The heat sink of the outer wall is structurally fixed on a steel reinforced aluminum frame with a glass curtain wall, and is further supported by intermittent welding studs. Conversely, the aluminum frame is suspended from the main structure by three-way adjustable combined curtain wall brackets.

Work with exterior wall consultants

And manufacturer 

After the fins were manufactured and beaded, Revery built a complete model of the exterior wall section for review. Kokalov continued: "Only after reviewing the complete model, we were convinced with the customer that this is the correct material, and further modified the stainless steel bracket to reduce the size of the bracket." "We differ in the appearance of the fins. I was surprised at how much light conditions change. The appearance of these fins seems to change from gray to pink to gold depending on the ambient light."

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