Text description provided by the architect. Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron is proud to present work at the 142,560m² cultural and arts complex at Hengqin Culture & Art Complex, one of China’s fastest growing cities. Hengqin Culture and Art Complex held its opening lighting ceremony on September 14th, 2024, and entered the operational stage of the trial. On the 3rd anniversary of the establishment of Hengqin Guangdong-Macao’s detailed cooperation zone, the building adheres to the design concepts of “Shanshui Hengqin, the living hall of the Grand Bay Area”, and will gradually open to the public by the end of the year.
A Long Road to Realization – Over more than a decade following the Chinese government’s approval of a massive, ambitious urban development on Henkin Island, sitting at the intersection of the Pearl River and southern China, billions of dollars have been poured into a project called “Henkin’s New Region.” Dozens of major projects are being developed within walking distance of Macau and within just 34 nautical miles of Hong Kong. The 106-square-kilometer island at its heart is a new addition to the populated region, with clusters of development targeting well-known sectors of culture, creativity and knowledge.
Newborn Hearts – In 2018, Atelier Apeiron won a competition launched by the Chinese government to implement proposals to build the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex as part of China’s third-largest new community after Hong Kong and Macau. The company’s winning proposal focuses on embracing a new and innovative approach to massive nine-block development. “The complex has nine divisions, each of which was independent and full of contradictions,” explains Yunchao Xu, chief architect at Atelier Apeiron. “We approached it in terms of integrating nine independent buildings into a single complex. We convinced our clients to advance a comprehensive strategy that resolves conflicts and stimulates public energy,” he said.
An innovative answer – The unique setting of Henkin Culture & Art Complex was not without its challenges. The region’s status as a region prone to summer typhoons was a challenge that required special considerations, including comparing numerous wind-bearing materials, before deciding on a light, flexible hanging glass curtain wall as an especially efficient solution. Another challenging factor was the way to introduce such a large amount of natural light. Being on an island with a subtropical climate also presented a challenge for the foundations of the vast complex, with natural layers of silt that could cause stability issues. In response, the company designed the basement as a sealed support space with anchor points to ensure maximum strength throughout the structure.
The Gateway of Arts and Culture – The location of the Henkin culture and arts complex is sandwiched between an existing residential tower and an open city park, and the Atelier Apeyron has devised a strategy to create an energetic complex that can accommodate a multifunctional future. As part of its strategy, companies favored an architectural approach defined by large-scale porosity adapted to the high-density urban context around the site. At a lower level of the complex, Apeyron applied the geometric concept of inverse catenary to create three grand arches of different shapes, clarifying the architectural language that combines Chinese and Western elements. Each arch serves as a gateway to another hall that is unique for both the character and the program. To draw natural light into essentially dark spaces, the company also incorporated two diffuser reflectors that cut skylights over the arches, forming connections with the rooftop gardens and directing soft sunlight into the room. The arch, made up of wood and bamboo panels, provides a window of transparency between the facility and its surrounding urban life. During the day, visitors enjoy unobstructed exterior views of the adjacent park, but at night, they are illuminated by soft lighting emitted by clear arched halls, forming the stage background for various public events held in the park. “Arches have been accepted as an important form of architectural form from the beginning of time and are common in both eastern and western cultures,” explains Yunchao Xu. “To create a strong structure with available materials, the arch is used to convert horizontal shear forces into vertical forces, ensuring that all points of the structure guarantee a shared load.” On the arch, a modular space unit is integrated into the design, ensuring maximum flexibility options for various future programs. Additionally, small spaces are integrated into the arch joints, with equipment and construction services.
Diversity of Atmosphere – A huge complex designed to accommodate nine different functions – libraries, archive centres, concert halls, cultural centres, art galleries, science museums, women’s and children’s activity centres, seniors’ activity centres, youth activity centres – the pinnacle of Yuncho XU/Atelier is realized to make the experience come true. Designed as three urban living rooms, each arch leads to a unique space consisting of a knowledge hall, a performance hall and an exhibition hall. In designing the knowledge hall, the company drew inspiration from the Oodi library in Finland. There, the library’s capabilities have progressed beyond simply being a space for reading services. Taking the traditional library concept to new heights, the knowledge hall features a vertical village in crystal book blocks and becomes the focus of urban public activities. The adjacent performance hall serves as a cultural performing arts center with large open stages and black box theaters designed for dance, music, theater and opera productions. Finally, the exhibition hall is defined by a porous space with strategically placed “cheese holes.” The mysterious scattering of natural light will be invited into a space conceived as a host venue for art and science exhibitions. Together, the three halls offer visitors a variety of parallel world experiences within the scope of all complexes. “The modular design of the complex ensures that each of the nine pavilions has its own distinct space, with three large halls following the same rationale,” says Yunchao Xu. “Our vision is that Hengqin Culture & Art Complex is a vibrant, three-dimensional vertical city that welcomes millions of tourists each year, and is to seamlessly connect with the surrounding environment while growing local communities.
Integrated Landscapes and Scenery – With nature-derived inspiration, Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron has incorporated natural prototypes into the designs of Hengqin Culture & Art Complex, including terraces, caves and cliffs. The stacked four-storey arrangement of rooftop platforms offers a stunning public event. In designing the garden, the company conducted multiple research to ensure optimal perspectives from each platform. The base platform includes a semicircular stage and a circular auditorium. Macau wedding companies host large weddings, birthday parties, corporate team building activities and more. Designed as a 24-meter children’s theme park, the platform features sand pits, vast play facilities, restaurants, museums and family cafes. At 30 meters, another platform will provide a shared garden and add a staff dining room and cafeteria for employees to rest and enjoy the environment. Finally, the Rain Garden platform, the 36m rise, serves as an environmental zone, integrating ecology, low carbon emissions, and green technology as a kind of ecological laboratory. The spiral staircase invites visitors to climb into the bamboo garden. There you can experience tranquility and quiet moments while enjoying tea adjacent to the empty bookstore.
Glittering Landmarks of the New Skyline – The Catenaly Curve of Hengqin Culture & Art Complex, stretching from the hills to the north, river and south, has created a landmark for the new Skyline. With the design of Hengqin Culture & Art Complex, Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron has embraced the experience of the interdisciplinary design process and evolved into its practice. With close collaboration with materials scientists, botanists, climatologists, acoustic experts and many other experts, the company’s experience and expertise provides a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of designing such a large cultural complex. “This project is a milestone for us and opens up new paths to designing innovative architectures in the future based on more multidimensional thinking,” concludes Yunchao Xu. “We’ve been motivated to expand our definition of architecture and push the boundaries of traditional design.”
