The Shaolin Flying Monks theatre by Mailitis Architects

[GeneChing]

What the heck is this? :confused:


The Shaolin Flying Monks theatre by Mailitis Architects (https://www.dezeen.com/2017/03/10/shaolin-flying-levitation-monks-theatre-mailitis-architects-songshan-mountain-henan-province-china/)
Wind tunnel allows monks to fly above Mailītis Architects' amphitheatre in rural China
Eleanor Gibson | Published 19 hours ago 3 comments

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.

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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.

Prototype Square by Mailitis AIIM

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

[GeneChing]

Lots of the same photos - I only cut&pasted the different ones.


http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2017/03/shaolin-lead-1580x549.jpg
Giant wind tunnel lets Shaolin monks fly while fighting in China (http://inhabitat.com/giant-wind-tunnel-lets-shaolin-monks-fly-while-fighting-in-china/)
3 hours ago
by Lucy Wang

The legendary Shaolin monks in Henan, China do more than ancient kung fu—they can even fly thanks to the help of Latvian architect Austris Mailītis. His firm, Mailītis Architects, recently completed the Shaolin Flying Monks Temple, a unique levitation pavilion and theater with a giant wind tunnel that allows the monks and the general public to experience flight. The mountain-shaped structure draws inspiration from the surrounding Song mountains in central China with a site-sensitive design that respects the environmental and historical context in the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu.

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A blend of East meets West, the Shaolin Flying Monks Temple is an amphitheater and platform for artistic performances. Austris Mailītis received the commission after a fortuitous meeting with people from Shaolin whom he met at the Shanghai Expo 2010 when he installed the Latvia Pavilion. “The concept is partially based on the phenomenon of levitation explored by the Shaolin monks for centuries,” said Mailītis. “Now they will all have an opportunity to try levitating. The idea is focused on growth, a spiritual and physical chance of making the next step towards solving the mystery of levitation.”

The sculptural theater takes inspiration from the Shaolin name, which translates to “mountain in the wood.” The 230-seat amphitheater is shaped like a mountain and represents the horizontal plane of the Earth, while the giant wind tunnel mimics a large tree with branches and symbolizes the vertical column of spirituality. The rounded organic form respects the beautiful mountain landscape in an area considered the cradle of Chinese civilization. “The building method combines modern and ancient technologies – a laser-cut steel superstructure supports stone steps handcrafted using local quarry resources,” said the architects.

The 300-square-meter theater includes interior and exterior spaces designed to host weekly shows. Wind tunnel-manufacturer Aerodium developed the technology to propel the monks and visitors into the air with powerful gusts of wind. The wind tunnel engine room is hidden below the stage and covered by a soundproof perforated surface that intakes air.

[rett2]

it just oozes shaolin.

after all ... "The idea is focused on growth, a spiritual and physical chance of making the next step towards solving the mystery of levitation.”

Gee, and I thought it was like putting up a Space Mountain at the Parthenon.

[GeneChing]

it just oozes shaolin.


Doesn't it tho? I long for the days of the old Shaolin, back when there was a roller coaster simulator and that tightrope bicyclist that rode the wire between mountain peaks. ;)

We have an iFly (https://www.iflyworld.com/sfbay/) here in the Bay Area. It's on the other side of Fremont, Union City actually. What boggles my mind about this Shaolin Flying Monks Theatre is that the top is open and you can fly above the structure, not contained in a padded chamber. That just strikes me as incredibly dangerous. One of my best friends did one of these in Vegas some thirty years ago. He crashed into the wall and even though they say 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas' he still complains of the back injury due to that.



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Images courtesy of Mailitis Architects

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15 March 2017 | By Joe Quirke

Mailitis Architects of Latvia has designed the “Shaolin Flying Monks Temple”, a wind tunnel and amphitheatre built for public aerial combat in Henan province, central China.

Mailitis says the temple will tell the history of “Zen and Kung-Fu through artistic performances and architectural image of the building itself”. The design is inspired by the natural landscape of the Songshan mountain, the environment where monks develop their skills.

The 300 square metre temple “attempts to create a landmark through mutual respect between history and future, nature and scientific development, Eastern and Western”.

Mailītis Architects say that “the building method combines modern and ancient technologies – a laser-cut steel superstructure supports stone steps handcrafted using local quarry resources”.

The recently completed amphitheatre will host weekly performances and will also allow members of the public to experience flight.

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The project is located close to the Shaolin Monastery, a Unesco world heritage site that is considered to be the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Kung-Fu.

The firm say “the concept is partially based on the phenomenon of levitation explored by the Shaolin monks for centuries.

“Now they will all have an opportunity to try levitating. The idea is focused on growth, a spiritual and physical chance of making the next step towards solving the mystery of levitation.”

http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/client_media/imagecontent/xshao4.jpg.pagespeed.ic.Xzm9k_vNDD.webp

Austris Mailitis was awarded the contract after meeting Shaolin natives during the Shanghai Expo 2010, for which he designed Latvia’s pavilion.

Images courtesy of Mailitis Architects