Northeast of Beijing, almost hidden among the Jinshanling hills – which for centuries have housed kilometers of remains of the Great Wall – the Chapel of Sound has recently been completed. 

It is a concert hall designed by Open Architecture studio, which a few months ago with “The Icebergs and the Sea” had already shown how architecture can blend with nature and have the least possible impact. 

If with “The Icebergs and the Sea” the architects thought of a museum made up of different pavilions simulating icebergs, this time for the Chapel of Sound the studio took inspiration from another natural element: the rock. 

The building, constructed of concrete darkened with charcoal, blends in with the surrounding environment characterized by rocks rich in minerals. The Chapel of Sound’s structure is shaped like an inverted cone, with the narrowest part serving as the foundation. This ensured that its construction had the least possible impact on the chosen site and, above all, in this way, the conical shape transformed the building into a true sounding board. The aim was to create a place comparable to a cave, where sounds bounce from one wall to another until they come out through the openings and skylights on the ceiling. 

In addition to the indoor amphitheater, the entire project also includes a rehearsal room, an outdoor stage, and observation platforms where the connection with the surrounding nature becomes even stronger.