Unesco Ancient Theatre Revitalization Ilé Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Àṣà by Lyt X Studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ìkọ́lé, Ilé àti Ètò Competition Category.
FàdákàÌkọ́lé· 2026
Unesco Ancient Theatre Revitalization Ilé Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Àṣà
by Lyt X Studio
Client: LYT-X Studio
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award Winner in Ìkọ́lé Category
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- Verified Award Winner
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The Design
About Unesco Ancient Theatre Revitalization Ilé Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Àṣà
Ìmúpadàbọ̀sípò Gbọ̀ngàn Eré Ìgbàanì ti Unesco jẹ́ àbá ilé ìṣẹ̀ṣe àṣà fún gbọ̀ngàn eré ìgbàanì tí ó ṣí sílẹ̀ lábẹ́ ojú ọ̀run. Àgbékalẹ̀ náà lo ìlò-padà aláṣàtúnṣe nípasẹ̀ ìdásí kékeré tí a lè yí padà, èyí tí ó dáàbò bo àwọn ohun ìṣẹ̀ǹbáyé ilẹ̀ náà. Òrùlé aṣọ fífẹ̀ tí kò wúwo, tí férémù irin oníkọ̀ọ̀kan tín-ínrín gbé dúró, ń ṣàkóso ìmọ́lẹ̀ oòrùn àti ìwọ̀n ooru nígbà tí ó sì ń jẹ́ kí ojú tó ń wo àyíká ilẹ̀ náà wà ní ṣíṣí. Àwọn ihò òrùlé tí a wọ̀n dáadáa àti àwọn ọ̀nà ìrìnkiri onígbọ̀ọ̀rọ̀ ń ṣe àtìlẹ́yìn fún atẹ́gùn àdánidá àti ìtura aláìlágbára. Àyè rírọ̀ tí ó jáde láti inú rẹ̀ ń gba àwọn eré ìtàgé, ìpéjọpọ̀ àwùjọ àti àwọn ètò ìlú.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award
Unesco Ancient Theatre Revitalization Ilé Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Àṣà jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ onípọ̀nlé lọ́nà àrà ọ̀tọ̀ tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe ìpele gíga jùlọ tó dára tó sì ń kan ọkàn. Àwọn olùborí Fàdákà jẹ́ àwọn iṣẹ́ tó ń tàn yòò gidigidi tó sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá púpọ̀ tí wọ́n ń ṣàfihàn ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀, ẹ̀bùn àti ìmọ̀ràn àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Unesco Ancient Theatre Revitalization Ilé Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Àṣà yóò jẹ́ iṣẹ́ àgbàyanu, àpẹẹrẹ rere, ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun jinlẹ̀. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award yìí jẹ́ ohun ìmúṣẹ̀dá tó hàn gbangba gidigidi tí a mọrírì tó ń ṣe anfàní tó sì ń tì ààlà iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ síwájú. Unesco Ancient Theatre Revitalization Ilé Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Àṣà jẹ́ ẹ̀dá tí ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ń ṣe ìlara, tó ń jí ìfẹ́ inú, tó ń mú ìmọ̀lára rere wá tó sì ń jí ìyàlẹ́nu àti ìyanu.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This project revitalizes an ancient open-air performance structure through adaptive reuse, repositioning a protected historic site as contemporary cultural infrastructure with ongoing civic relevance. Rather than introducing a new architectural object, the design adopts a strategy of minimal and reversible intervention that preserves archaeological integrity while respecting the original spatial logic of the site.
A lightweight tensile membrane roof is introduced to filter daylight and provide thermal moderation while maintaining visual openness to the surrounding landscape. Carefully calibrated roof openings and multi-directional circulation enhance natural ventilation and passive cooling, enabling comfortable year-round use without reliance on intensive mechanical systems.
By supporting flexible performance, public gathering, and civic programs, the intervention extends the social and cultural relevance of the site, reinforcing its role as an active component of urban life. Beyond the specific context, the project demonstrates a scalable approach to heritage revitalization, showing how climate-responsive design and lightweight architectural strategies can reactivate historic open-air typologies as sustainable civic infrastructure for contemporary use. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The project preserves the original dimensions, geometry, and spatial organization of the historic theatre, ensuring full continuity with the existing archaeological fabric. Lightweight architectural elements are introduced without altering the primary structure, with new roof systems spanning the existing seating area through minimal and carefully controlled contact points. Circulation paths follow the original radial layout, maintaining legibility of the historic form.
Structural components are designed for reversible installation, reducing foundation intervention and accommodating archaeological constraints. Environmental performance is achieved through passive daylighting and natural ventilation strategies, minimizing reliance on mechanical systems while supporting long-term use and conservation requirements. - Tags
- Adaptive Reuse, Cultural Infrastructure, Heritage Architecture, Urban Regeneration, Civic Architecture, Socially Engaged Design, Passive Environmental Strategies, Tensile Roof Structure
- Production Technology
- The project employs lightweight architectural systems to minimize physical impact on the historic site while ensuring long-term durability and performance. A tensile membrane roof is supported by a slender steel structural framework, providing weather protection and controlled daylight penetration with minimal additional load. The system is designed using modular steel components, allowing reversible installation, efficient assembly, and potential future disassembly in response to archaeological requirements.
Environmental performance is achieved through integrated roof apertures and open circulation paths that promote natural ventilation and passive cooling. Durable, low-maintenance materials are selected to support long-term use while respecting the constraints of heritage conservation and minimizing ongoing intervention. - Design Challenge
- The central challenge of the project lies in reconciling strict archaeological preservation requirements with contemporary performance, environmental comfort, and public usability. The design is constrained by limited physical intervention, incomplete historical documentation, and the need to preserve the original spatial and structural logic of the historic fabric.
Within these constraints, the project addresses the challenge of integrating environmental performance, circulation, and programmatic flexibility into an open-air heritage structure without introducing permanent or intrusive architectural elements. Developing reversible, lightweight systems that respond to climate conditions while maintaining archaeological integrity required the careful synthesis of historical research, environmental analysis, and architectural restraint. - Research
- This project is an architectural design research study examining how ancient open-air performance structures can be revitalized as contemporary cultural infrastructure while maintaining archaeological integrity and spatial legibility. The research frames the theatre not as a static artifact, but as climate-responsive civic infrastructure capable of supporting year-round public use with minimal physical intervention.
Methodologically, the study combines site analysis and historical research with spatial mapping of existing geometries, circulation radii, sightlines, and topographic relationships. Environmental performance is evaluated through microclimatic assessment and passive-strategy testing, focusing on daylight distribution, solar exposure, wind-driven ventilation potential, and thermal comfort under varying seasonal conditions. These findings inform a set of lightweight and reversible architectural strategies intended to minimize contact with protected fabric and reduce dependence on mechanical systems.
The research outcomes demonstrate that calibrated roof apertures, open circulation networks, and tensile membrane systems can provide daylight modulation, climatic protection, and natural ventilation while preserving the open-air character of the historic typology. The resulting design integrates these conclusions into spatial organization, roof configuration, and movement sequencing, expanding programmatic flexibility for performance, gathering, and civic use without compromising conservation requirements. The study offers a transferable framework for climate-responsive heritage revitalization, applicable to similar archaeological sites seeking long-term cultural relevance and environmental sustainability. - Inspiration
- The project is informed by a research-based investigation into the enduring spatial logic of ancient open-air theatres and their relationship to climate, landscape, and collective civic life. Drawing from studies in archaeological preservation, environmental performance, and contemporary public use, the design examines how these historic typologies functioned as climate-responsive civic infrastructures rather than static monuments.
Rather than replicating historical forms, the project adopts a methodological approach that seeks to reactivate the cultural relevance of ancient theatres through climate-responsive strategies and minimal architectural intervention. By aligning heritage conservation with sustainable performance and contemporary civic needs, the design positions the historic theatre as a living public framework capable of supporting evolving patterns of use while retaining its spatial and cultural integrity. - Project Duration
- The project was developed as a conceptual architectural proposal and completed in October 2025. The site is located at Ilindenska 59, Ohrid 6000, North Macedonia, within a historic ancient theatre precinct of significant cultural and archaeological value.
- Operation Flow
- The project operates as an open and adaptable public cultural space, guiding visitors through the original radial circulation of the historic seating while maintaining clear spatial orientation. Performers and audiences move fluidly between stage, seating, and surrounding landscape, without rigid barriers or fixed thresholds. The open-air configuration supports flexible use across varying event scales, allowing performances, gatherings, and informal activities to coexist within a single spatial framework.
The lightweight roof provides climatic protection while preserving visual and spatial continuity, ensuring openness rather than enclosure. By encouraging visibility, accessibility, and shared experience, the design fosters social interaction and reinforces the theatre’s role as an active civic space within the urban fabric. - Patents
- Copyrights to LYT-X Studio
- Team Members
- Dingdong Tang
Yangqi Yang
Haisheng Xu
Zehui Li - Image Credits
- Copyrights to LYT-X Studio
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