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©2025 Chenzhe Fu

ARCH006 → Brick Beyond Form - Performing Art Center for Academy of Drama of China


The site sits in the heart of Peking, Dong Cheng District, surrounded by many his - torical Chinese Courtyards (SiHeYuan). The Arrow Alleys (Hutong) area is on the west side of the site, while the Central Academy of Drama of China is on the east side. The proposed performing art center provides a soft transfer space from the city to the school. In addition, it offers exterior space for people to gather and rentable programs for the local community to use. 





The brick building informs the traditional teaching methods and inspires innovative teaching techniques. By carefully considering the texture, form, and tectonic of brick, the fa - cade not only reflects or connects the traditional Chinese brick cul - ture but also proposes a new idea that determines the potential pos - sibility of using brick. The front elevation and roof maintain the same language in the Hutong region and connects the urban and school area.




The new performing arts center serves both The Central Academy of Drama and the local community. The major space for the project is the performance auditorium which provides more than 200 seatings with related support spaces. The secondary space of the project is the activity space and the office space. The activity space provides classrooms, communal working, and social areas. The office program provides open offices and meeting rooms. In addition, I want the building to become usable to the general community, and I create retail spaces as well as rentable classrooms and studios that serve the city. To further serve the public, the exterior occupiable areas on the ground floor provide spots for the local people to play and gather. 




Inside the building, the triple-height atrium space also provides an area for the general public to use and enjoy. Meanwhile, the atrium serves as the major circulation space. The monument stair is the beginning of the circulation which lets people have the chance to have a glance at the interior, and people circle the atrium space to go up. As the floor goes up, the functions of the different programs become more private. The first floor provides retail and rentable spaces; the second floor provides the entrance into the auditorium and the student activity space; the third floor provides the office area. The ceiling of the atrium would reveal the designed brick form, and the skylight brings natural light into the building.