Photo of completion . Image © Yingbin Fu

完成的照片。形象(英宾赋)

背景戏剧阶段自古以来就在中国农村文化生活中占有重要地位。通常，舞台是一个村庄的公共活动中心。过去，乡村建筑、庆祝活动、节日和火灾以及村民聚会都以舞台为中心，舞台是一种公共设施。即使在中华人民共和国成立以后，戏剧舞台也没有从历史上退出。“舞台与讲台”的结合，曾在现代语境中赋予这一传统建筑元素以新的生命力。各种体育赛事、乡村选举、节日表演等活动不断拓展戏剧舞台的活力。

The Background Drama stages have occupied important position in the cultural life of Chinese countryside since ancient times. Usually a stage is a public activity center of one village. Rural constructions, celebrations, festivals and fires, and villagers' gatherings used to be all centered around the stage, which is playing as a public facility. Even after the founding of the People's Republic, drama stage has not withdrawn from the history. The combination of “stage and rostrum” had once gave this former traditional architectural element new life in modern context. Various sport events, rural elections, festival performances and other activities continue to extend the vitality of drama stages.

The Background Drama stages have occupied important position in the cultural life of Chinese countryside since ancient times. Usually a stage is a public activity center of one village. Rural constructions, celebrations, festivals and fires, and villagers' gatherings used to be all centered around the stage, which is playing as a public facility. Even after the founding of the People's Republic, drama stage has not withdrawn from the history. The combination of “stage and rostrum” had once gave this former traditional architectural element new life in modern context. Various sport events, rural elections, festival performances and other activities continue to extend the vitality of drama stages.

 Photo of completion . Image © Yingbin Fu

完成的照片。形象(英宾赋)

然而，随着农村政府结构的变化和网络生活方式的侵入，现阶段的原有功能正在逐渐消失。乡村投资的许多大舞台已经闲置了很长一段时间。在当代乡村语境中，他们的封闭空间特征、巨大的体积和独特的功能变得越来越尴尬。

However, with the change of rural governmental structure and the invasion of internet life-style, nowadays the original function of stages is gradually fading away. Many large stages invested by villages have been idle for a long time. Their enclosing space character, massive volume and singular function have become increasingly embarrassing in the context of contemporary villages.

However, with the change of rural governmental structure and the invasion of internet life-style, nowadays the original function of stages is gradually fading away. Many large stages invested by villages have been idle for a long time. Their enclosing space character, massive volume and singular function have become increasingly embarrassing in the context of contemporary villages.

 Photo of completion . Image © Yingbin Fu

完成的照片。形象(英宾赋)

文化设施的发展是新一轮农村发展的重要组成部分。在新农村运动下，建立了众多的农村图书馆、文化站、大舞台等文化设施。然而，大多数设施未能有效发挥文化作用，大多闲置，甚至被遗弃。农村应该有什么样的文化空间？在当代语境中，作为一个文化乡村地标，舞台应该呈现什么样的形象？通过这个设计方案，我们试图探索和回答这些问题。

The development of cultural facilities is a significant part of the new round of rural development. Numerous rural libraries, cultural stations, grand stages and other cultural facilities have been built under the New Rural Movement. However, most of the facilities have not work effectively to play a cultural role and are mostly idle or even abandoned. What kind of cultural space should rural areas have? What kind of image should the stage present as a cultural rural landmark in contemporary context? By this design scheme we try to explore and answer these questions.

The development of cultural facilities is a significant part of the new round of rural development. Numerous rural libraries, cultural stations, grand stages and other cultural facilities have been built under the New Rural Movement. However, most of the facilities have not work effectively to play a cultural role and are mostly idle or even abandoned. What kind of cultural space should rural areas have? What kind of image should the stage present as a cultural rural landmark in contemporary context? By this design scheme we try to explore and answer these questions.

 Photo of completion . Image © Yingbin Fu

完成的照片。形象(英宾赋)

 Photo of completion . Image © Yingbin Fu

完成的照片。形象(英宾赋)

北河洞舞台设计方案，希望摒弃传统舞台的封闭空间和单一功能，为村民的各种日常活动和聚会提供新的空间。墙壁从空间形成中被丢弃，取而代之的是一个巨大的浮动天棚，为各种活动提供了庇护，并整合了下面的现有活动。

The Scheme On designing Beihedong stage we hope to discard the over-enclosing space and singular function of traditional stages, to provide villagers new spaces for various daily activities and gatherings. Walls are discarded from the spatial formation, a huge floating skyhook ceiling is applied instead, providing shelter for various activities and integrating existing activities underneath.

The Scheme On designing Beihedong stage we hope to discard the over-enclosing space and singular function of traditional stages, to provide villagers new spaces for various daily activities and gatherings. Walls are discarded from the spatial formation, a huge floating skyhook ceiling is applied instead, providing shelter for various activities and integrating existing activities underneath.

 Photo of completion . Image © Yingbin Fu

完成的照片。形象(英宾赋)

四面开放的空间在吊顶下形成，中间凸起，形成视觉焦点，也方便表演。舞台的两边被举成座位，村民们可以坐在那里，在没有表演的时候闲聊。舞台的另一边变成了为日常活动提供休息设施的步骤。人行道延伸到广场的背面，其边缘也有观众席。整个舞台以自由、开放和共同的方式呈现在村庄中，为村民开展各种公共活动。

A space opened on all four sides is then formed under the suspended ceiling, with the middle raised to form a visual focus, also convenient for performances. The two sides of the stage are raised as seats, where villagers can sit around and chat when there are no performances on. The other two sides of the stage turn into steps providing rest facilities for daily activities. The pavement extends to back of the square, at its edge there are also audience seats. The whole stage is presented in the village in a free, open and communal manner, carrying all kinds of public activities for villagers.

A space opened on all four sides is then formed under the suspended ceiling, with the middle raised to form a visual focus, also convenient for performances. The two sides of the stage are raised as seats, where villagers can sit around and chat when there are no performances on. The other two sides of the stage turn into steps providing rest facilities for daily activities. The pavement extends to back of the square, at its edge there are also audience seats. The whole stage is presented in the village in a free, open and communal manner, carrying all kinds of public activities for villagers.

 Context analysis diagram

上下文分析图

该遗址位于村庄广场的一端，西北两侧都有围墙，而广场和道路则在东南方向。由于现有建筑的阻碍，舞台应该是全方位开放的想法很难实现。因此，面对墙壁的两边向上举起，然后变成座位，而另一边则向外延伸，形成一个很小的观众区域。舞台和屋顶的整个地板形成了一组错位的正方形，一个大一个小，形成了一种特殊的交错空间关系。

The site is located at one end of the village square, with building walls on both sides of the northwest, whereas square and roads on the southeast. Due to the obstruction of the existing buildings, the idea that the stage should be open on all sides became difficult to realize. Therefore, the two sides facing the walls are lifted upward and then turned into seats, while the other two sides extend outward, forming a small audience area. The whole floor plane of the stage and the roof form a set of two malposed squares, one large and one small, forming a special staggered spatial relationship.

The site is located at one end of the village square, with building walls on both sides of the northwest, whereas square and roads on the southeast. Due to the obstruction of the existing buildings, the idea that the stage should be open on all sides became difficult to realize. Therefore, the two sides facing the walls are lifted upward and then turned into seats, while the other two sides extend outward, forming a small audience area. The whole floor plane of the stage and the roof form a set of two malposed squares, one large and one small, forming a special staggered spatial relationship.

 Villagers gathering in the space . Image © Yingbin Fu

村民们聚集在空间里。形象(英宾赋)

 Photo of completion . Image © Yingbin Fu

完成的照片。形象(英宾赋)

我们认为，农村发展不需要刻意重复利用传统的构造和材料，相反，作为一个日益增长的“生命体”，它拥有自我进化的权利。钢格栅作为一种非常成熟的现代结构体系，在大跨度屋面中得到了广泛的应用.这个村庄的顶棚也采用了钢网架结构。工厂预制后，现场组装和完成整个钢结构只需两天时间。吊顶上下垂的钢制格栅起到了吊帘的作用，使整个屋顶变成了一把漂浮的“雨伞”，将场地向下突出，空间宽敞，空气清新。

We think rural development does not have to deliberately reuse traditional tectonics and materials, instead, as a growing “living body", it has the right of self-evolution. As a very mature contemporary structural system, steel grid is widely used in large-span roofs. Steel grid structure is also used in the ceiling of this village stage. It takes only two days on site to assemble and complete the whole steel structure, after pre-casted by the factory. The sagging steel grille of the skyhook ceiling acts as a hanging curtain, which makes the whole roof became a floaty-look "umbrella", projecting the site downward with spaciousness airiness.

We think rural development does not have to deliberately reuse traditional tectonics and materials, instead, as a growing “living body", it has the right of self-evolution. As a very mature contemporary structural system, steel grid is widely used in large-span roofs. Steel grid structure is also used in the ceiling of this village stage. It takes only two days on site to assemble and complete the whole steel structure, after pre-casted by the factory. The sagging steel grille of the skyhook ceiling acts as a hanging curtain, which makes the whole roof became a floaty-look "umbrella", projecting the site downward with spaciousness airiness.

 Completion and opening ceremony . Image © Yingbin Fu

竣工和开幕式。形象(英宾赋)

红色是中国农村最受欢迎的颜色。整个屋顶结构被喷上喜庆的红色，就像红色的灯笼，成为村里的标志性设施。舞台所在的广场也是农村市场的场所。当市场举行时，五颜六色的摊位和熙熙攘攘的人群形成了一幅巨大的漂浮红色天篷下乡村生活的奇妙而又相互对比的画面。同时，红色天篷及其多功能地下室空间也容纳了部分市场摊位，将舞台与农村集市结合起来。

Red is a favored color in Chinese countryside. The whole roof structure is sprayed with festive red, like a red lantern, which becomes a landmark installation in the village. The Plaza where the stage located is also a place for the rural market. When markets are held, colorful stalls and bustling crowds form a fantastic and mutually contrasting picture of rural life under the huge floating red canopy. At the same time, the red canopy and its multi-functional basement space also accommodate part of the market stalls, integrating the stage with the rural fairs.

Red is a favored color in Chinese countryside. The whole roof structure is sprayed with festive red, like a red lantern, which becomes a landmark installation in the village. The Plaza where the stage located is also a place for the rural market. When markets are held, colorful stalls and bustling crowds form a fantastic and mutually contrasting picture of rural life under the huge floating red canopy. At the same time, the red canopy and its multi-functional basement space also accommodate part of the market stalls, integrating the stage with the rural fairs.

 Rural market . Image © Qin Ding

农村市场。形象(秦丁)

演出结束后，舞台很快就成了公众活动的聚集地。老村民们喜欢晒太阳，聊天，在舞台上打牌，那里的屋顶甚至在雨天也为活动提供了住所。同时，舞台成为农村市场的灵活交易中心，其外围的长凳和台阶成为很好的零售场所。乡村的发展并不是创造盆景，因此，它的设计不一定要在追求“传统”和“继承”的形式和材料中受到充分的限制。有时，将当代技术作为基本方法，诚实地为当前农村的现实和独特需求服务，或许是一个更好的选择。

The Impact The stage quickly became a gathering place for public activities once upon completion. Elder villagers enjoy the sun, chatting, playing cards around the stage, where the roofs providing shelter for activities even in rainy weather. At the same time, the stage became a flexible trading center for the rural market, as the benches and steps at the base of its periphery become excellent retail places. Rural development is not to create bonsai; therefore, its design has not to be fully constrained within the forms and materials chasing "tradition" and "inheritance". Sometimes it is perhaps a better choice to honestly serve the realistic and unique demands of current countryside using contemporary techniques as fundamental methodologies.

The Impact The stage quickly became a gathering place for public activities once upon completion. Elder villagers enjoy the sun, chatting, playing cards around the stage, where the roofs providing shelter for activities even in rainy weather. At the same time, the stage became a flexible trading center for the rural market, as the benches and steps at the base of its periphery become excellent retail places. Rural development is not to create bonsai; therefore, its design has not to be fully constrained within the forms and materials chasing "tradition" and "inheritance". Sometimes it is perhaps a better choice to honestly serve the realistic and unique demands of current countryside using contemporary techniques as fundamental methodologies.

 Drama performance . Image © Yingbin Fu

戏剧表演。形象(英宾赋)

Architects Fuyingbin Studio

Location Beihedong Village, Zibo City, Shandong Province, China

Category Theaters & Performance

Chief designer Yingbin Fu

Design Team Haoran Zhang, Jia Song, Quanhui Wang

Area 140.0 m2

Project Year 2018

Photographs Yingbin Fu, Qin Ding, Haoran Zhang