Shanghai West Bund Grand Theatre by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects | GRC Facade

The West Bund Grand Theatre is China’s first waterfront venue designed exclusively for opera, created by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects. Covering an area of 23,177 square meters, it includes a 1,600-seat main auditorium and a 200-seat smaller theater. Set to rival world-class performing arts centers, the theater offers exceptional acoustics and viewing experiences. It also features a large outdoor public space, highlighting its public function and making it ideal for hosting outdoor events, concerts, and festivals.

Inside the public areas, visitors can enjoy views of the West Bund waterfront through large glass curtain walls. Spacious terraces—one on the rooftop and another on a mid-level—provide outdoor spaces for relaxation during intermissions, allowing visitors to enjoy the waterfront scenery and the stunning city skyline.
 

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Redevelopment 

The adaptive reuse of the West Bund Dome Art Center, located next to the West Bund Grand Theatre, has been designed by Schmidt Hammer Lassen. This circular structure has been transformed into a spectacular venue for performing arts and sporting events, joining the Grand Theatre as one of the two world-class cultural spaces in the West Bund Dream Center commercial district - Gate M.

Gate M, a new waterfront commercial landmark, was once the site of the Shanghai Cement Plant. Covering around 162,000 square meters with 800 meters of waterfront, the project has been fully redeveloped. In addition to its cultural and performance venues, the area now features a riverside market, skate park, sports facilities, and waterfront dining, creating a vibrant mix of activities.

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GRC Façade

The vast structure of Grand Theatre exudes a fluid, flowing aesthetic. Its façade, resembling graceful ripples, harmonizes with the shimmering waters of the Huangpu River. The 12,000 sqm GRC claddings feature varied horizontal stripes that mimic the texture and movement of flowing water.

The building is covered with 11 different types of long strip GRC panels, produced by Jiangsu Huiquan New Materials Technology. Each panel is 1800×3000mm in size, with a thickness of 20mm and uniform seams of 8mm. The project required over 12,000 pieces with numerous corner variations. All GRC panels were made using Aalborg white cement.

Due to the limited space, the design incorporates horizontal textures to create a canyon-like atmosphere and integrates water elements into the lobby. The façade, made from GRC panels in various modular sizes, showcases horizontal stratified patterns reminiscent of limestone deposits, giving the building a natural rhythm. The gradation in the GRC panels adds a subtle beauty, blending the historical and cultural significance of the site with a rhythmic, musical quality.

The pursuit of aesthetic pleasing for this white concrete structure was stringent, particularly regarding color uniformity. Aalborg White cement, chosen for its exceptional consistency, high strength, and superior whiteness, was highly regarded by Jiangsu Huiquan. The smooth concrete surfaces take on a bright and pure appearance in the sunlight, allowing the hexagonal structure to stand out and perfectly embody the remarkable elegance and architectural beauty of this world-class theater.

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Urban renewal and site revitalization will be key trends in the coming years. Architects, working within limited spaces, need more materials and design elements to bring their visions to life. GRC, with white cement as its primary component, offers high strength, lightweight distribution, diverse textures, rich colors, and strong versatility, giving architects endless possibilities to fully realize their creative designs. Jiangsu Huiquan has perfected GRC production through technical innovation, careful material selection, and advanced equipment, ensuring exceptional quality.

With a dedication to craftsmanship and excellence, producing high-quality products will naturally resonate with more people, leading to even broader applications of GRC in the future.