Architectural gems Chapel of Sound vs New Aspen museum

Oh what a view

The winding staircases of the concert hall lead to a roof platform that offers a breathtaking panoramic view over the valley and the Great Wall.

CHAPEL OF SOUND

In the valley near Chengde, a historic city northeast of Beijing, you will not only find the ruins of the Great Wall of China, but also the Chapel of Sound. This mysterious, boulder-shaped concert hall is the work of Li Hu and Huang Wenjing, the founders of the Chinese studio Open Architecture. To minimize the building's ecological footprint, they created an open structure without heating or air conditioning that is in dialogue with the landscape. Its monolithic aspect creates a futuristic look and feel. Designing an excellent acoustic environment without using extra sound-absorbing materials was a real challenge. But by working with acoustic engineers, Li Hu and Huang Wenjing created openings that function both as sound-absorbing spaces, and as a connection to the outside environment.

Protective wooden layer

A wooden facade cladding has many advantages. Since wood is a PEFC-certified raw material, the cladding requires no maintenance and is weatherproof and UV-resistant.

New Aspen museum

In the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, you will find the village of Aspen. It's famous not only for being the favorite ski resort of many A-list celebrities, but also for its imposing New Aspen Art Museum. The design, by Shigeru Ban Architects, is characterized by transparent and open materials that give visitors a view of their surroundings. Just like the fantastic light, nature and the outdoor environment contribute to the unique museum experience inside. The braided wooden construction on the facade protects the museum in cold weather conditions and keeps the heat in. This environmentally conscious design is what won the museum the AIA Institute Honor Award in Architecture in 2017.