Project
Retail
Cultural
Restaurants and Bar
Cafe and Bakery
Other
Status: built, 2025
Area: 202 sqm
Client: Chording
Location: Shenyang
Photography: Topia Vision
The core transformation was to retain the double height while adding new mezzanines. A stage with two window views became the focal point, creating a centripetal field. Here, the relationship between performer and audience was redefined, as all functions unfolded around the stage, turning the space into a small theater.
The audience is an essential part of the space. With frequent performances and events, we wanted the venue to feel right at both high and low densities. Stairs and steps were designed as seating, while the second-floor walkway and the bridge to the office also became areas where people could gather and watch.
We integrated a flexible furniture system into the space, which can be concealed when needed, allowing the functions to overlap while maintaining the overall design integrity.
Professionalism was another key pursuit. Recording studios, classrooms, and display areas were rigorously designed, with soundproofing, lighting, and equipment underscoring our commitment to quality. Visitors not only see the instruments but also feel the respect and trust for music embedded here.
At the same time, we wanted warmth. In classrooms and communal areas, we introduced approachable furniture and details, making the space a place where musicians can create with ease, and the public can relax and engage.
To counter the limits of height, we used strong vertical gestures to create a sense of stretch. This vertical order softened the constraints of the beams, making the space appear more open and free. At the entrance, a black matrix wall with diffused light sets up a rhythmic array, with embedded LEDs adding dynamic, music-like visuals. Passing through this sequence into the main hall, one feels a gradual build-up of emotion. Chording is not simply a music venue, but a composite place that fuses performance, learning, exchange, and experience. We hope it becomes a bridge between musicians and the city, gathering diverse energies and continuously generating new possibilities.