Project Info
Project Name: Dali Transformer Factory Theatrical District
Location: No. 3 Pingdeng Rd, Dali, Yunnan, China
Architects: Atelier Alter Architects
Lead Architects: Yingfan Zhang, Xiaojun Bu
Illuminated cultural complex emerges dramatically within Dali's traditional urban fabric
In the shadow of the ancient Cangshan Mountains, a sleeping giant has been jolted back to life. This is not a renovation; it is a resurrection. Atelier Alter Architects has taken the skeletal remains of the Dali Transformer Factory and injected it with a new, pulsating voltage—transforming a relic of heavy industry into a high-fidelity district of performance and art.
Tiered amphitheater platforms create public gathering space before factory
Where the previous "Earthboat" project whispered of silence and withdrawal, the Dali Transformer Factory Theatrical District screams of energy, collision, and public spectacle. Located on the fringes of Dali’s historic citadel, this 13,000-square-meter adaptive reuse project does not politely blend in. Instead, it asserts itself as a "Heterotopia"—a space of otherness where the raw grit of the 1970s collides with the sleek, digital realities of the 21st century.
Elevated walkways pierce through preserved industrial volumes as promenades
The brilliance of Atelier Alter’s intervention lies in its refusal to hide the scars of the past. The original concrete frames and heavy timber trusses are not merely preserved; they are celebrated as the primary "scenography" of the district. The architects have treated the entire site not as a building, but as an unfolding script.
Perforated metal screens wrap ramping circulation connecting multiple roof levels
The central concept—"Museum of Effect"—turns the factory into an immersive theater without boundaries. There are no strict lines between the actor and the audience, the backstage and the front of house. A new, lightweight structure weaves through the heavy industrial bones, creating a "walking section" of the city. As visitors navigate the sloping ramps and suspended walkways, they become active participants in a play directed by the architecture itself.
Pedestrian bridge links separated factory volumes across dramatic urban canyon
The program is a radical mix of the tangible and the virtual. The factory’s original workshop, storage, and office blocks have been re-coded into a complex "ecology of rooms." The Transformer Theatre, the district's beating heart, utilizes the vast, column-free spans of the old workshop to host experimental performances.
Rooftop pathways transform into undulating public topography above historic district
But the drama extends beyond the stage. In the "Theatrical Bar of Tarot" and the "Queen’s Broadcast Room," industrial machinery parts are repurposed as furniture and sculpture, creating a steampunk-esque aesthetic that feels both nostalgic and futuristic. These spaces are equipped with cutting-edge holographic projection and AR/VR technologies, allowing the rigid concrete walls to dissolve into digital dreams. It is a collision of eras: the weight of the hammer meets the weightlessness of the pixel.
Theatrical lobby exposes raw brick through illuminated geometric cutouts dramatically
Unlike a traditional museum that demands quiet observation, this project demands movement. The design utilizes an undulating "Tabula Rasa"—a landscape of platforms that connect high and low roofs, mimicking the mountainous terrain of Yunnan. This artificial topography invites the public to climb, sit, and gather, turning the rooftops into open-air amphitheaters.
Industrial concrete frames house multilevel performance space with exposed rigging
Atelier Alter Architects has successfully avoided the trap of "museumification." They haven't frozen the factory in time; they have given it a new job. By stripping away the facade of the mundane, they have revealed the theatrical potential of industrial decay. The peeling paint, the rusted steel, and the imposing scale of the factory now serve as the backdrop for Dali’s contemporary cultural explosion.
Perforated vault glows ethereally above atmospheric bar and lounge spaces
The Dali Transformer Factory is a masterclass in adaptive reuse that prioritizes action over preservation. It proves that heritage buildings don't need to be treated with kid gloves; they can be remixed, rewired, and amplified. Atelier Alter has created a space that is as raw as it is refined—a "power station" that no longer generates electricity, but now generates culture, memory, and pure, unadulterated drama.
PHOTO CREDIT: Xia Zhi, Highlite Images, Jin Weiqi
Save this story. A free account keeps your reading list and the 07:00 email in one place.
CREATE FREE ACCOUNT →SIGN IN
