# Steven Chilton Architects wraps Guangzhou theatre in tattoo-imprinted cladding
Steven Chilton Architects has designed a theatre in Guangzhou, China, which has a shape informed by the city’s historical connection to silk and is imprinted with patterns that represent its current tattoo culture.
Named the Sunac Guangzhou Grand Theatre, the building will host performances from visiting production companies as part of a group of entertainment venues being built in the city’s Huadu District.
The building’s distinctive cladding was informed by Guangzhou’s history as a key trading port
Across this red cladding, a series of darker patterns informed by tattoo art were drawn. Above this base layer, a series of golden figurative animals that were influenced by a local myth titled 100 Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, were added to the facade.
Phoenix characters were given positions of prominence, while birds were arranged over the facade dependent on the geometry.
