ZHA designs new Jinghe New Cultural Centre echoes the meandering valleys carved by the Jinghe River

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has been named the winner of the competition to design the Jinghe New City Culture & Art Centre. The design of the cultural centre echoes the meandering valleys carved by the Jinghe River, in the Shaanxi province.

The new building is part of Jinghe New Cities ambition to become a centre for developing industries focusing on new energy and materials, artificial intelligence and aerospace. The Jinghe New City Culture & Art Centre is located within the Jinghe Bay Academician Science & Technology Innovation district of the city.

The building is a series of sinuous curves, featuring flowing volumes, layers and surfaces interconnected with courtyards and landscapes. The design can be read as a series of exterior and interior spaces for its community.

Located on the southern side of the avenue, the performing arts theatre accommodates 450 people and can be adapted for many types of events. The multi-function hall, studios and galleries are stacked and arranged around the theatre to share public areas designed to enhance accessibility and inter-disciplinary collaboration.

Solar irradiation analysis and responsive site planning optimise the centre’s use of natural ventilation and daylight in the mild temperate climate of Jinghe New City. 

Incorporating photovoltaic panels for on-site power generation together with rainwater collection, the centre’s construction will prioritise locally produced materials with a high recycled content to achieve a 3-star certification in China’s Green Building program.

Project Details

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
ZHA Principal: Patrik Schumacher
ZHA Commercial Director: Charles Walker 
ZHA Project Director: Satoshi Ohashi 
ZHA Associate Director: Yang Jingwen 
ZHA Project Architect: Nan Jiang 
ZHA Project Team: Sanxing Zhao, Lianyuan Ye, Shaofei Zhang, Qiyue Li, Shuchen Dong, Yuan Feng, Congyue Wang, Yuling Ma, Yanran Lu 
ZHA Sustainability: Carlos Bausa Martinez, Bahaa Alnassrallah, Aditya Ambare 
Consultants Structure: 容柏生建筑结构设计事务所 RBS
Regulation and technical consultant: 中联西北工程设计研究院有限公司 China United Northwest Institute for Engineering Design & Research Co
Images: ATCHAIN