Neri&Hu reimagine the ostentation of entertainment venues with a wooden Shanghai theatre

Strategically located along the Huangpu River amidst a skyline of skyscrapers, the New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center emerges as a cultural landmark in Shanghai’s rapidly developing Qiantan area. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a dramatic display of five stacked precast terrazzo arches in the lobby concourse, creating an immediate sense of grandeur and rhythmic movement. The escalator space, crafted entirely from glass blocks, juxtaposes the interior design of the theatre, enveloped in warm oak that extends seamlessly from the stage into the audience areas, providing an aesthetic and acoustic function in the grand theatre.  

Additional distinctive features include bronze-clad restrooms and a VIP lounge crafted from perforated bricks. Curved lines throughout the project enhance the sense of fluidity, and material use adds a tactile quality. The blackened stainless steel of the multipurpose Black Box Arts Space contrasts with the warm wood interiors.