World-renowned Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo has unveiled its competition entry for the Bao'an Public Culture and Art Center in Shenzhen, China. Mecanoo's fragmented-looking volume is divided into three parts and sipmly-designed cubic volume is raised from the ground to create a public square and sculpture garden. 

The studio's proposal was listed in the third place out of 69 entries in the competition. The building is surrounded by residential towers and infrastructure on the site where the Bao'an Public Culture and Art Center presents several challenges. 

Video by Mecanoo

Covering a total of 84,120 square meters on the plot, the design reconciles the two functions for mutual benefit, reinventing the inwardly focused identity of cultural facilities in Hong Kong. 

Mecanoo combines the museum entrance with the entrance of the metro station to generate an inviting and open urban node with a powerful capacity and to diffuse art throughout the community.

"The metro station and the Culture and Art Center have similar qualities: the station manages large flows of people and the Center attracts them," said Mecanoo. 

The Center has the simple shape of a cube, elevated from the ground to create a public square and sculpture garden. This cosmopolitan plaza will allow people, cultures, ideas and opportunities to blend. On the north-east side, a stepped landscape with sports fields connects the Center to the Binhai School.

The building's interior features different functions and are organised around a large central void which serves as an exhibition space for expansive art installations. Strategically positioned incisions in the volume allow for balconies with viewpoints across Bao’an. 

The Bao'an Public Culture and Art Centre program consists of Culture and Art Center - both above and underground - including a museum, art gallery, gallery, sports field, and service area with auditorium, restaurant, art bookstore, meeting room and underground parking.

Bao'an Public Culture and Art Center schemes

Project facts

Size: 84,120m2

Status: Design

Project Design: 2016

Address: Xinhu Road and Chuangye Road, Bao'an District, Shenzhen, China

Client: Urban Planning, Land & Resources Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Bao'an Administration

All images © Mecanoo Architecten

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