GOA creates open-air venue for humans and birds in China
GOA (Group of Architects) has completed the Earth Valley Theater in Yixing, Jiangsu, China, introducing a unique performance space designed as a shared environment for both birds and people. Developed for “Dancing with the Birds,” a Sino-French ecological narrative show directed by Fan Yue, the 9,200-square-meter open-air theater is set into a valley on the outskirts of Yaohu Town. The project seamlessly weaves together architecture, landscape, avian behavior, and performance into a cohesive experience. “The Earth Valley Theater is an adventure of humans, nature, and the mind,” remarks lead architect Xu Qi. “Space is no longer just a shelter, but a question: how far are we from nature, and how close are we to ourselves?”
The materials chosen for the theater carry deep local significance. Yixing is renowned for its pottery and is surrounded by dense bamboo forests. GOA reinterpreted these regional elements, clay and bamboo, into modern, durable architectural features. For the ‘clay’ elements that define the land-art forms, carved concrete was CNC-milled to achieve precise shapes, with artisans then hand-sculpting the surfaces on site. ‘Bamboo’ features prominently in the central stage installation and on the aviary facades. Rather than traditional fibers, the team opted for high-density polyethylene, artfully combining three hues to create surfaces that softly mimic woven bamboo.
The sloping audience area conceals an integrated system of cast-in drainage channels, which align with the valley’s natural water flow. The sculpted ‘clay’ forms also house acoustic equipment for the show’s multimedia effects. For the aviaries, prefabricated lightweight steel components were assembled from three standardized panel designs to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
all images © CHEN Xi Studio
Earth Valley Theater: architecture as land art
The design process began with careful attention to the natural topography—a gently branching valley that informed the theater’s form from the outset. Instead of elevating the structure above ground, GOA’s Chinese architects allowed the building to merge with the landscape, utilizing the valley’s slopes as a natural enclosure. A stepped plinth at the roadside concentrates public activities and creates a threshold that separates daily life from the immersive world within. Visitors pass through one of three entrance halls, leaving the town behind and entering a setting that feels almost like a constructed dreamscape for performances.
Beyond the plinth, the 2,000-seat auditorium opens toward the encircling hillsides. The design prioritizes the use of level ground while allowing the theater’s perimeter to naturally follow the contours of the land. When performances begin, the surrounding hills—already familiar to the birds—become an integral part of the scenic backdrop. A second, perpendicular valley is dedicated to the aviaries, where the quieter landscape forms a protected corridor. Here, flocks of white storks make their dramatic entrance at the climax of each show.
GOA completes the Earth Valley Theater in China
designing from the performers’ point of view
With birds as the principal performers, the Earth Valley Theater required a design approach rarely found in theater architecture—one that starts with flight patterns, species-specific behaviors, and sensory needs. Avian consultants were involved from the earliest stages. Birds transition from their aviaries to ‘zero-level’ boxes situated above the auditorium, from which they soar across the open space, sometimes gliding just overhead. To facilitate this, seating gradients and height variations were meticulously planned to balance audience immersion with safety and comfort for both birds and people.
This bird-centered concept extended to the smallest details. Dots applied to glass surfaces prevent bird collisions. Aviaries are lined with thermally treated timber to avoid harmful paint while ensuring outdoor durability. Ground coverings, mesh sizes, and enclosure layouts vary according to species, reflecting unique physical and behavioral differences.
The multidisciplinary team at GOA remained engaged throughout every phase, from concept to fabrication, ensuring that technical systems and performance requirements were carefully aligned.
<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-1167166 size-full lazyload" bad-src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" alt="GOA crafts an open-air theater in china where birds and humans share the same stage" width="1800" height="1350" src="https://static.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/goa-open-air-theater-china-birds-humans-same-stage-designboom-large01.jpg" srcset="https://static.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/goa-open-air-theater-china-birds-humans-same-stage-designboom-large01.jpg 1800w, https://static.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/goa-open-air-theater-china-birds-humans-same-stage-designboom-large01-818×614.jpg 818w, https://static.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/goa-open-air-theater-china-birds-humans-same-stage-designboom-large01-768×576.jpg 768w, https://static.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/goa-open-air-theater-ch
