Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron proudly presents its ongoing work on the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex, a monumental project set to become a community centrepiece in one of China’s fastest-growing cities. After six years of planning, designing, and construction, Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron’s ambitious vision for the complex is nearing completion.
Hengqin Island, situated at the confluence of the Pearl River and South China, has witnessed billions of dollars in investments since its approval as the “Hengqin New Area.” This vast urban development, just a short distance from Macau and Hong Kong, has attracted numerous major projects aimed at fostering culture, creativity, and knowledge.
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- The Three Vaulted Halls, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
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- The Urban Context, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
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- The Mirror View from the Waterfront, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
Atelier Apeiron’s winning proposal for the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex competition in 2018 centered around an innovative approach to integrating nine independent departments into a cohesive architectural masterpiece. Each department had unique requirements and challenges, but the firm successfully convinced the client to grant relative independence to each unit, allowing for a comprehensive strategy that resolves conflicts and energizes the public.
The complex’s distinctive setting presented its own set of challenges. Being located in a typhoon-prone area required careful consideration of wind resistance, leading to the selection of a light and flexible suspended glass curtain wall. Bringing natural light into the vast volumes of the complex posed another hurdle. The firm incorporated skylights and diffuse reflectors to create connections with rooftop gardens and channel soft sunlight into the interior spaces.
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- Three Vaulted Halls at Night, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
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- The Library, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
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- The Library, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
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- The Performance Centre, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
Situated between existing residential towers and an open city park, the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex is designed to be a dynamic space capable of accommodating multifunctional activities. Large-scale porosity characterizes the architectural approach, adapting to the high-density urban context of the surroundings. The lower level features three magnificent arches, each leading to a unique hall with its own character and program. These arched gateways, composed of wood and bamboo panels, provide transparency and visual links between the facility and the urban life outside.
The complex houses nine distinct functions, including a library, archives centre, concert hall, cultural center, art gallery, science museum, and activity centres for women, children, the elderly, and youth. Atelier Apeiron aimed to create a communal sense of being by desegregating the experience. The Knowledge Hall draws inspiration from the Oodi library in Finland, evolving beyond a space for reading services to become a vertical village of crystal book blocks. The adjacent Performance Hall serves as a cultural performing arts centre, while the Exhibition Hall invites mysterious natural light through strategically placed “cheese holes” and hosts exhibitions of art and science.
The Hengqin Culture & Art Complex seamlessly integrates landscape and vistas into its design, inspired by nature’s prototypes such as terraces, caves, and cliffs. Stacked rooftop platforms offer stunning views and serene environments with living green balconies resembling park settings for community-based events. These platforms include spaces for weddings, a children’s theme park, shared gardens, and an environmental zone with green technologies and a bamboo garden.
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- The Art Hall, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
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- The Amphitheatre, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
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- The View from the Plaza, Photo Credit: Yunchao Xu
Scheduled for completion in 2024, the catenary curve of the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex will become a glittering landmark in the new skyline. Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron’s multidisciplinary design process, involving collaboration with experts in various fields, has expanded the firm’s understanding and expertise in creating large-scale cultural complexes. This milestone project has not only opened new avenues for innovative architecture but has also pushed the boundaries of traditional design.
With its visionary approach, the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex will serve as a vibrant, three-dimensional vertical city, attracting millions of tourists and fostering a thriving local community while harmoniously connecting with its surrounding environment.
