Shenzhen, China
After winning an international competition, Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron collaborate with SZAD to create a new mixed-use art and culture complex, a dense housing area, and an open green park that will become a new meeting point for the people in Shenzhen.
Hengquin Culture and Art Complex project has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Awards Honorable Mention by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The main public space on the lower level is composed of three giant arch caves coated by wood and bamboo panels, to create a transparent and open living room for urban life.
The prototype is from an inverted catenary arch, which is a common aesthetic and emotional symbol shared by traditional Chinese and classical western culture.
Each arch has a unique character to create a specific atmosphere.
In the knowledge hall, crystal book blocks build up a vertical village for all ages of readers.
The performance hall in the middle has a big open stage and a black box theater for dancing, concerts, dramas, and operas.
By scattering mysterious light into the space, the spiral in the exhibition hall joins science and art.
The three halls can be experienced not only in a continuous movement but in parallel.
Above the arches, there are modular space units designed to maximize flexibility for the future.
The building skyline is curved along a catenary from the north hill towards the south river.
On overlapping urban balconies, one can hold a wedding or birthday party on the first ceremony roof plaza.
On can teach their kids how to play X-sports on the playground of the second platform.
Also, one may walk to the upper secret garden to enjoy quiet tea time.
Project: Hengquin Culture and Art Complex
Architects: Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron, and SZAD
General Contractor: Zhuhai Gree Construction Investment Co., Ltd.
Client: Zhuhai Gree Construction Investment Co., Ltd.
Photographers: Yunchao Xu
