LocationXishaungbanna,China
CustomWanda Group
ServiceInteriors Design
Area19,500sqm
Year BuiltBuilt 2015

The Dai Show Theatre, built by the Wanda Cultural Industry Group, showcases the charm of Dai culture and Yunnan ethnic customs against the backdrop of Xishuangbanna's rich natural and cultural landscapes. The theatre, designed by a team of international experts including ZWP, stufish from the UK, Franco Dragone Entertainment Group from the US, and Auerbach Pollock Friedlander Theatre Design Consultants from the US, is a world-class performance venue. Shaped like a traditional Dai hat, the theatre seats 1,200 people and includes reception, performance, rehearsal, and rest facilities. The architectural exterior closely resembles the traditional conical hats commonly used in the Dai ethnic group's daily life, and the interior design is inspired by the weaving techniques used in making these hats.

The peninsula-style stage layout provides the audience with a close-up viewing experience, enhancing the overall spectacle. The design of the sound system is cleverly executed, with multiple acoustic cavities strategically placed on the back wall of the audience seating area. Combined with the sculpted ceiling and evenly distributed sound-absorbing panels, this design ensures that the stage sound is evenly distributed to every position in the audience area. This effectively avoids issues such as sound pressure being too high in the central area due to the "can" shape of the internal building space.

The design of the VIP lounge incorporates elements inspired by palm leaves, with a natural and fluid shape. The details are imbued with Eastern cultural symbols, creating an atmosphere as if one were under a giant palm leaf, blending into a lush green landscape. Throughout the various spaces of the building, the design continues the conical hat-inspired shapes and woven textures. Through simple yet rhythmic forms, the spaces are unified through repetition, allowing them to seamlessly blend into the palm leaf-green surroundings. This design integrates the building organically with the tropical rainforest environment where the project is located.