The center is strategically located near the Tianmu River, Xiao Hengqin Mountain, and Tianqin Garden City Park, Zhuhai, China, respecting the natural contours of the landscape. Its design is inspired by the Chinese philosophy of "using emptiness to define space," blending Eastern and Western architectural elements in continuous arched spaces that harmonize with nature. This creates a poetic microcosm that invigorates the urban landscape.
Designed by Xu Yunchao, the innovative "nine-in-one" strategy integrates nine functional areas: an art gallery, a science museum, a cultural museum, a library, a bookstore, an archive, a senior center, a youth center, and a growth center. These areas are scientifically arranged for resource sharing, forming a cohesive "third space" rich in culture and art. The center aims to be a world-class cultural and artistic hub for Hengqin.
The building's skyline curves from Xiao Hengqin Mountain to the Tianmu River, forming a graceful arc. Its rooftop gardens maintain green vibrancy throughout the seasons, attracting birds and creating a sanctuary for visitors. The structure itself blends into the natural surroundings, becoming a hill and a river, offering a natural sanctuary for individuals to enjoy.
Inside, the building features three enormous arched spaces resembling a three-dimensional landscape painting. These spaces are inspired by forests, with vertical trunks and horizontal canopies forming natural arching spaces. The building's design ensures a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors, with continuous arched spaces, large skylights, and overhangs creating a porous, breathable environment.
The three arched halls showcase the primal aesthetics of nature, offering a mystical charm and a sense of comfort and safety. The center serves as a unified yet interconnected ecosystem, with each functional area operating like an organ in the human body—relatively independent yet working together harmoniously. The arched halls act as time-traveling links, merging the functional areas into a cohesive whole.
Visitors can appreciate global art treasures, listen to music, watch performances, or enjoy reading time. The rooftop garden features themed platforms for events, an outdoor stage with views of the Tianmu River, and an eco-garden for peaceful moments. The building's design creates a seamless connection between the interior and exterior, allowing individuals to feel the rhythm of nature.
Light plays a significant role in the building's design, penetrating through apertures to create scenes through direct, transmitted, scattered, reflected, and refracted rays. This allows people to feel the passage of time and the breath of nature. The high arch serves as a "crystal book mountain," with a tiered, three-dimensional library. The middle arch features a semicircular Roman theater and a performance space, while the low arch connects the science museum and art gallery through deep circular apertures, creating a dreamlike scene.
During the day, visitors can enjoy views of the park and the riverbank, while at night, the transparent arched halls emit a gentle glow, creating a dreamlike stage for various activities. The center extends into the city, integrating with the urban landscape and gathering a lively crowd even before its official opening.
The Hengqin Cultural and Art Center is a harmonious blend of nature and architecture, providing a sanctuary for individuals to find joy in their surroundings and enriching the urban landscape of Hengqin. The project was officially opened in December 2024.
(Source: Atelier Apeiron)
