Zaha Hadid Architects has revealed images for its new art centre which is currently under construction in Zhuhai, China. 

Named Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Centre, the new venue echoes the "chevron patterns of migratory bird" flying in formation over southern China.

While the construction work is underway on site, the recent photographs show that the steel structure of its lattice roof canopy has been installed over two of the centre’s four cultural venues.

Image © Minmud

Located at the heart of Jinwan district’s Western Ecological New Town, the new venue is designed as a new hub of contemporary creativity within one of the world’s most dynamic regions.

Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Centre incorporates four distinct cultural institutions for the city: a 1200-seat Grand Theatre; a 500-seat Multifunctional Hall, a Science Centre; and an Art Museum. Each venue within the centre has its unique characteristics to create the most engaging visitor experiences. 

All distinct functions are united by a coherent formal and structural logic that spans 170 meters wide from east to west and 270 meters long from north to south.

Image © Minmud

Arranged symmetrically, the two larger and two smaller venues are connected by a central plaza that serves as a shared external foyer to each of the four cultural institutions. The structure looks like a real bird as if it is preparing to fly and fully opens itself to the outside with its glazing walls. 

"Glazed walls facing this courtyard enable visitors to determine the individuality and character of each venue," said Zaha Hadid Architects. 

"The Grand Theatre and Art Museum are very light in their materiality, while the Multifunctional Hall and Science Center have a much darker palette of materials."

Image © Slashcube

Taking cues from the chevron patterns of migratory birds flying in formation over southern China, the latticed steel canopies over each venue are configured through repetition, symmetry and scale variation. 

This form results in a composition of related elements that respond to the different functional requirements of each building. Every building-module of the roof is self-supporting and self-stabilising. 

The repetition of the modules enables optimization for pre-fabrication, pre-assembly and the use of modular construction.

"The centre’s distinctive roof structure unites the different venues under a network of reticulated shells soaring above the four buildings," added ZHA. 

Image © Methanoia

"Interconnecting bridges and voids define a vibrant public plaza with views to the centre’s interiors as well as to the surrounding promenades with their cafés, restaurants and educational facilities." 

"The design optimizes natural light in all public areas and enhances connectivity; creating engaging civic spaces for Zhuhai’s residents to enjoy throughout the day and evening."

Visitors are welcomed to inside via ramps to the rooftop piazza where footbridges and stairs connect through a central void to each venue. Glazed façades provide transparency and welcome the community onto its public plazas beneath the sweeping roof structure. 

An external amphitheatre is designed on the west side of the centre that allows for outdoor performances and activities.

As ZHA explains, "the centre’s landscaping and surrounding lake are designed as integral elemets within 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." 

Image © Methanoia

By implementing humidity and soil-moisture sensors within the landscaping’s irrigation system, they will help to control and reduce water consumption.

The building is optimized for thermal performance, the building's envelope has the double-insulated glazing and is protected by the latticed roof canopy. Perforated aluminium panels used on the roof canopy will provide external 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, solar gain and orientation,"  continued ZHA. 

Energy consumption and indoor air quality of the building will be monitored by intelligent systems that will automatically adjust the centre’s interior environments for optimal comfort and energy reduction. 

Image © Minmud

"Waste heat recovery will be used to meet the centre’s hot water demand with water-saving appliances connected to the centre’s water recycling system," ZHA added.

Designed to achieve two stars within China’s Green Building Evaluation Standard, the selection and procurement of the centre’s structural components has prioritized recycled materials.

Image courtesy of ZHA

Project facts

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects

Design: Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher

Project Directors: Satoshi Ohashi, Charles Walker

Project Senior Associate: Lydia Kim

Project Architects: Mei-Ling Lin, Aurora Santana (SD)

Package Leads: Mei-Ling Lin, Elena Scripelliti

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, Yevgeniya Pozigun, Cao Qi, Qiuyu Zhao, Aurora Santana, Hannes Schafelner, Michael Sims, Patrik Schumacher, Sharan Sundar, Maria Touloupou, Chao Wei, Charles Walker

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

LDI: Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design South China Centre

Consultants

Landscape Consultant: Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design (South China Centre)

Acoustic Consultant: East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (Acoustic & Theatre Special Design & Research Division)

Façade Consultant: Zhuhai City Honghai Curtain Wall

Interior Consultant: Shenzhen Z&F Culture Construction

Amplify Consultant: Radio, Film & TV Design and Research Institute

Signage Consultant: W&T Design

Lighting consultant: Shenzhen Global Lighting Technology

Theater Consultant: Shanghai DeYi Engineering Technology

BIM Consultant: Beijing BIMTechnologie

Green Building Consultant: Guangdong JORJUN Green Building Technology

Top image © Minmud 

> via Zaha Hadid Architects