Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Arts Centre

Designed as a creative hub within one of the world’s most dynamic regions, the centre is at the heart of Aviation New City within Zhuhai’s Jinwan district.

Integrating three distinct cultural institutions for the city (a Performing Arts Centre with a 1200-seat Grand Theatre and a 500-seat multifunctional Black Box theatre; an interactive Science Centre; and an Art Museum) each venue within the centre incorporates unique characteristics, yet all are united by formal and structural logic.

The distinctive roof structure unites the different venues under a network of reticulated shells that envelop the four wings of the centre. Interconnecting bridges create a multi-layered public plaza at the heart of the centre with views to the interiors as well as to the surrounding promenades with their cafés & restaurants.

Echoing the chevron patterns of migratory birds flying in formation over southern China, the latticed steel canopies sheltering each venue are supported by only 22 columns and span 270m x 170m and configured through repetition, symmetry and scale variation. This repetition optimised pre-fabrication, pre-assembly and modular construction.

The centre’s landscaping and surrounding lake are integral elements of Zhuhai’s ‘sponge city’ initiative that targets the natural permeation, storage and re-use of at least 70% of the city’s rainwater using aquatic flora and fauna to naturally filter contaminants. Humidity and soil-moisture sensors within the landscaping’s irrigation system control and reduce water consumption.

Located within the subtropical climate of southern China, the double-insulated glazing of the building’s envelope is optimized for thermal performance and protected by the roof canopy which incorporates perforated aluminium panels for solar shading. The perforations within the panels vary in size to allow differing degrees of sunlight within the centre’s interior spaces in accordance to their programming requirements, orientation and solar gain. At night, this roof canopy bathes the centre in soft reflected light.

GFA below ground: 51,646m2

GFA above ground: 48,432m2

Height: 35m

Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design Principal: Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher
Project Directors: Satoshi Ohashi, Charles Walker
Project Associate Design Director: Lydia Kim
Project Associate Director: Yang Jingwen
Project Associates: Mei-Ling Lin, Aurora Santana (SD)
Project Leads: Mei-Ling Lin, Elena Scripelliti
Project Core Team: Armando Bussey, Reza Karimi, Julian Lin
Project CA Team: Qi Cao, Kai-Jui Tsao, Mei-Ling Lin, Juan Liu, Yuling Ma, Feifei Fan
Project Team: Armando Bussey, Marius Cernica, Grace Chung, Nelli Denisova, Xuexin Duan, Kaloyan Erevinov, Nassim Eshaghi, Kate Hunter, Yang Jingwen, Reza Karimi, Ben Kikkawa, Lydia Kim, Julian Lin, Mei-Ling Lin, Valeria Mazzilli, Sareh Mirseyed Nazari, Massimo Napoleoni, Satoshi Ohashi, Yevgeniya Pozigun, Qi Cao, Qiuyu Zhao, Aurora Santana, Hannes Schafelner, Michael Sims, Patrik Schumacher, Sharan Sundar, Maria Touloupou, Chao Wei, Charles Walker, Kai-Jui Tsao, Yuling Ma, Feifei Fan
Competition Team: Armando Bussey, Clara Martins, Cristiano Ceccato, Charles Walker, Ed Gaskin, Filippo Nassetti, Jinqi Huang, Juan Liu, Lydia Kim, Julian Lin, Satoshi Ohashi, Paulo Flores, Harry Spraiter, Patrick Schumacher, Houzhe Xu, Simon Yu

CONSULTANTS
Local Design Institute: Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design South China Centre
Structural Consultant: Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design South China Centre
Green Building Consultant: Guangdong JORJUN Green Building Technology
BIM Consultant: Beijing BIMTechnologie
Façade Consultant: Zhuhai City Honghai Curtain Wall
Lighting Consultant: Shenzhen Global Lighting Technology
Landscape Consultant: Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design (South China Centre)
Theater Consultant: Shanghai DeYi Engineering Technology
Signage Consultant: W&T Design
Fire Consultant: Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design (South China Centre)
Amplify Consultant: Radio, Film & TV Design and Research Institute
Acoustic Consultant: East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (Acoustic & Theatre Special Design & Research Division)
Interior Consultant: Shenzhen Z&F Culture Construction

CONTRACTORS
General Contractor: MCC City Investment Holding
Façade Contractor: Shenzhen Sanxin Technology Development
Landscape Contractor: Zhuhai Wuyue Landscape Engineering
Interior Contractor: Shenzhen Weiye Decoration Group

Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Arts Centre by Zaha Hadid in China won the WA Award Cycle 48. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.