The Golden Bells chime in 2015

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Image: Stufish 2014

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Image: Stufish 2014

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Image: Stufish 2014

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Image: Stufish 2014

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Stufish Entertainment Architects have completed the world’s first indoor movie theme park in Wuhan, China. The 690m USD Wanda Movie Park, designed for client Dalian Wanda Group, is a multi-dimensional and multi-sensory experience spread over 100,000 sqm. The building houses six film-related ‘ride’ attractions, including 4D and 5D cinema screens, flight theatre, immersive and interactive live performances and a space theatre.

Built to complement the advanced technology within the park, Stufish’s design showcases Wuhan’s rich local heritage. Wanda Movie Park is nicknamed The Golden Bells, as its design draws inspiration from a 2,000-year-old local relic called Wuhan Bianzhong bells, a cultural artifact from the Han Dynasty. Architect MAciej Woroniecki describes the arrangement of the bell structures as ‘an architectural cacophony – a static motion expressing a joyous tone’.

There are 24 bells in total, and each undulating shape is covered in bespoke geometric aluminum panels; all 11,000 of the gold panels are covered in a fluorocarbon paint that allows the cladding to self-clean as it rains.

Strips of LEDs fill the gaps between the paneling. They wrap around the bell shaped structures and make Wanda Movie Park glow vibrantly at night.

The scheme’s landscaping was also carefully considered, as its terraced planting, outdoor seating, and water features reference the agricultural practices of the Hubei province, in which Wuhan is located.

Glazed areas at street level provide double height shop fronts on Donghu lake and generous views out from the various dining and retail facilities within. The building’s only entryway, which is positioned in a hollow bell, is just beyond a large column-free cantilevered canopy.

The geometry of Wanda Movie Park’s exterior façade extends to the internal finish. The inner façade that spans three floors is made of animated LED discs set to create an interactive digital platform. This choreographed theatrical lighting enhances the ad-hoc energy of atrium terracing, jutting escalators and bold signage.

Stufish’s designs for Wanda Movie Park have tried to match the intense ride content produced by pioneering visual effects companies such as Industrial Light & Magic (behind the Star Wars saga) and Pixomondo (behind Game of Thrones).

PROJECT TEAM

Architects: Stufish Entertainment Architect
Client/Developer: Dalian Wanda Group
GFA/Area: 100,000 sqm
Theme Park Consultants:Forrec
Local Design Institute:Tongji Design Institute