The Light of the North Qhov Chaw Ua Yeeb Yam Suab Paj Nruag by Meng Zhao

The Light of the North Qhov Chaw Ua Yeeb Yam Suab Paj Nruag by Meng Zhao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Tooj in Tsim Vaj Tsev, Tsev thiab Qauv Tsev Competition Category.

ToojVaj Tsev· 2026

The Light of the North Qhov Chaw Ua Yeeb Yam Suab Paj Nruag

by Meng Zhao

A' Design Award Tooj Winner in Vaj Tsev Category

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Colors

The Design

About The Light of the North Qhov Chaw Ua Yeeb Yam Suab Paj Nruag

Lub Teeb ntawm Sab Qaum Teb yog ib qhov chaw ua yeeb yam suab paj nruag nyob rau hauv Saynatsalo, Finland. Lub tsev muaj thaj tsam dav 2000 square meters thiab muaj ib chav ua yeeb yam suab paj nruag loj. Qhov kev tsim no ua raws li tus qauv ntawm lub tsev tswj hwm nroog uas nyob ze thiab ntxiv cov haujlwm niaj hnub rau cov zej zog hauv zos. Sab pem hauv ntej ntawm lub qhov rooj muab cov phab ntsa cib uas muaj qhov tho los ua ke nrog ib daim phab ntsa iav, thiab cov cib raug teeb ua ntau yam qauv sib txawv. Cov txiag ntoo nkhaus sib txuas cov phab ntsa thiab qab nthab, faib qhov teeb pom kev ntuj kom mos muag thiab ua kom lub suab hauv chav ua yeeb yam zoo dua. Qhov chaw no pab cov menyuam yaus, cov neeg laus thiab cov tub ntxhais hluas hauv zej zog.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Tooj

The Light of the North Qhov Chaw Ua Yeeb Yam Suab Paj Nruag yog tus yeej ntawm A' Design Award Tooj, ib qho kev lees paub muaj meej mom heev uas muab rau cov qauv tsim tshwj xeeb uas txawv los ntawm kev tsim tshiab, kev txawj tsim thiab kev ntse. Cov neeg yeej Tooj yog cov khoom muaj txuj ci heev thiab tsim tshiab heev uas ua pov thawj txog kev paub ntau, kev xav thiab kev txawj ua ntawm cov kws tsim qauv. The Light of the North Qhov Chaw Ua Yeeb Yam Suab Paj Nruag xav tias yuav yog ib qho khoom uas neeg hwm, qhuas thiab hlub, uas tshaj lij heev thiab tsim tshiab. Cov qauv tsim yeej A' Design Award Tooj no siv cov kev coj ua zoo tshaj plaws ntawm kev kos duab, kev tshawb fawb, kev tsim qauv thiab thev naus laus zis thiab zoo heev vim nws saib xyuas cov ntsiab lus. The Light of the North Qhov Chaw Ua Yeeb Yam Suab Paj Nruag ua tau raws li cov kev xav tau zoo kawg, kov cov kev xav, ntxias cov kev xav thiab txhawb kev xav paub.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The musical art center is a symbol of cultural revitalization. By paying homage to and integrating the design language of town hall-an iconic symbol of Finnish spirit-with modern functional needs, it respects tradition while injecting new social elements, promoting cultural revival and community development. The project draws inspiration from Finnish nature, using wood and red bricks to promote sustainability and create a warm, immersive space.
Dimensions & Packaging: Gross floor area: 2000 square meters, Project type: Musical Center & Concert Hall
Tags: art building, musical center, concert hall, musical art center, culture, landmark
Production Technology: The entrance facade combines perforated brick walls with glass curtain wall, while the bricks are arranged in varied rhythmic patterns to add visual depth and texture. Using of curved wooden panels to seamlessly blend the walls and ceiling, it contributes to a soft diffusion of natural light throughout the space that interacts with nature and maximizes environmental benefits. All-wood interior of the concert hall features a wooden panel forming a streamlined enclosure to optimize acoustics.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge of the project is to integrate with the surrounding environment. For example, how to communicate and connect with the existing town hall servicing as a whole. The design needs to deeply consider the geometry, the appearance, the continuity of streamlines, the functional requirements of the township, and the application of local materials.
Research: Investigate and analyze the resident population size, age distribution, and proportional composition of Saynatsalo and the nearby major city, Jyvaskyla. Survey the functional zoning and spatial distribution of different areas. The findings reveal that 69.8% of the urban population aged 15-64 severely lacks open, public, nature-adjacent, and music-related activity spaces. Saynatsalo is ideally positioned to meet the rapidly growing demand for music spaces from the surrounding population.
Inspiration: This project responds to rural population decline and aging in a groundbreaking way. Located in Saynatsalo, it serves children, elderly people, and underprivileged young people, revitalizing the town's culture and social life. From Finnish nature, the concert hall is supplemented with the old town hall, creating an outstanding cultural space that attracts music lovers. The project creates a quality music environment with opportunities for exchange, stimulating the regional economy.
Project Duration: The project designed in 2024, Saynatsalo, Finland.
Operation Flow: The musical art center's space and circulation design optimizes functionality and aesthetics through a unification of fluid flow, judicious zoning, and balance to pay respect to Finnish cultural characteristics and modern requirements.
Image Credits: Image #1-5, Meng Zhao, 2024.