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Wind tunnel allows monks to fly above Mailītis Architects' amphitheatre in rural China
Monks perform levitation over a huge wind tunnel at this amphitheatre, which was designed by Latvian studio Mailītis Architects for a mountain range in central China.
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The Shaolin Flying Monks Theatre stands on a slope covered in cypress trees on Songshan Mountain – a mountain range in Henan Province.
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The mountains are home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shaolin Monastery, which is also considered to be the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Kung-Fu martial arts.
Tasked with creating an amphitheatre to host weekly shows where local monks as well as the general public can try flying, Riga-based Mailītis Architects wanted to create a building that respects its natural surroundings.
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The shape of the building is intended to finish the peak of the Cypress Hill, with the sloped outer shell forming a grand staircase that leads up and around the auditorium in the middle.
The wind tunnel rises high in the centre, featuring a branch-like structure that splays outwards at the top.
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"The concept is to tell the history of Zen and Kung-Fu through artistic performances and the architectural image of the building itself," explained the architects.
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"The architectural and conceptual image pays respect to the beauty of surrounding nature and the historical heritage of the site," they continued.
"Developed in the shape of two symbols – mountain and tree – it serves as a platform for any kind of scenic arts focusing especially on flying performances."
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A metal banister lines the side of the staircase around the rim of the structure. On the interior of the laser-cut steel structure, stone steps form seats facing the stage.
"The building method combines modern and ancient technologies – a laser-cut steel superstructure supports stone steps handcrafted using local quarry resources," said the architects.
In addition to the exterior surface and steps, and the inner stage, the theatre also features a three-storey interior space housing facilities for visitors and performers.
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The engine room of the wind tunnel is located below the stage, and is covered by a perforated surface used to intake air and eliminate sound. It is also insulated with acoustically insulating material on the inside.
Technological devices, developed by wind tunnel-manufacturer Aerodium, are also stored here and create the air flow that goes straight to wind tunnel, which can be adjusted by the operator.
![The Shaolin Flying Monks theatre by Mailitis Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/the-shaolin-flying-monks-theatre-mailitis-architects-architecture-cultural-china_dezeen_2364_col_8.jpg)
Led by Austris Mailītis, Mailītis Architects is a family company comprising two generations of architects and artists.
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Other projects by the Riga-based team include a scaffolding and timber pavilion at Latvian brewery. Architects Austris Mailītis, Andra Odumāne and Reiji Kobayashi also worked with 13 students to design and build a temporary structure made from stacks of recycled material for a brewery.
Photography is by Ansis Starks.
Project credits:
Principal architect: Austris Mailītis
Architecture Design: Ints Menģelis, Kārlis Melzobs, Dina Suhanova, Valters Murāns, Andra Odumāne and Jekaterina Olonkina