On aesthetic and functional grounds, Zaha Hadid Architects has made steel the star of the show at Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Arts Centre in Guangdong Province, China.
Pitched as the focal point of Aviation City, a new urban area in the city of Zhuhai in the Guangdong Province, southern China, there is no doubt that Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Arts Centre fits that awe-inspiring brief.
Zaha Hadid Architects, now run by Patrik Schumacher, began working on the brief in 2017 and the scheme is now thought to be in the late stages of construction.
Inspired by the archetypal chevron-shaped group flight formation of migratory birds as they cross southern China, vast latticed steel canopies cover and link the three venues that make up the complex: a performing arts centre, an interactive science centre and an art museum. Designed symmetrically on a central axis, each venue is connected by a series of bridges and voids to a central foyer to create one unified whole.
Situated in the middle of a man-made lake, the resulting architecture is striking from the ground and the air, and with nearby Zhuhai airport being a popular transport hub, it is likely to quickly become an aerial talking point.
Formed from pre-fabricated steel
Supported by 22 columns, with an area of 270m from north to south and 170m from east to west, the modular repetitive structures that make up the steel roof canopies were able to be fabricated off-site.
The self-supporting and self-stabilising steel roof structures have been cleverly adapted to support each venue’s individual needs. In the performing arts space, ceiling panels are positioned and angled in line with the roof canopy to optimise the acoustics. In the art museum, the chevron formation of the roof frame brings the optimal natural light into the main atrium. While in the science museum, interactive exhibits follow the roof’s geometry.
Climate control
The steel roof structure is also designed to make the region’s sticky subtropical climate more amenable. The latticed roof features aluminium panels with perforations that vary in size to control the sunlight and heat hitting the interior spaces during daylight hours, while at night they bathe the centre in a soft reflected moonlight. Throughout the build, where possible recycled steel, aggregates and other component parts have been used to ensure the design scores highly on China’s Green Building Evaluation Standards.
As Aviation City fills up with residents and Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Arts Centre puts on enticing shows and exhibitions, it is expected to draw crowds from far and wide.