{"id":276123,"date":"2025-04-30T11:41:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T02:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adfwebmagazine.jp\/?p=276123"},"modified":"2025-04-30T11:47:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T02:47:43","slug":"hengqin-culture-art-complex-by-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adfwebmagazine.jp\/en\/architect\/hengqin-culture-art-complex-by-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron\/","title":{"rendered":"Hengqin Culture & Art Complex by Yunchao Xu\/Atelier Apeiron"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Beacon of Growth and a Bastion of Arts and Culture<\/h3>\r\n

Y<\/span>unchao Xu\/Atelier Apeiron<\/a> unveiled its work on the 142,560m\u00b2 Hengqin Culture & Art Complex, a community focal point in one of China\u2019s fastest growing cities, built to serve the entire Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Hengqin Culture and Art Complex held an opening lighting ceremony on September 14, 2024, and entered the trial operation stage. The complex will be fully open by July 2025.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-1\"<\/a>

Library, performance center and art hall
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-8\"<\/a>

Night view from the watefront
\r\nPhoto credit: Position<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-10\"<\/a>

Library with book mountain
\r\nPhoto credit: Position<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

A Long Road to Realization<\/h4>\r\n

In the more than a decade that has followed Chinese government approval of the massive and ambitious urban development of Hengqin Island, sitting at the crossroads of the Pearl River and South China, billions of dollars in investments have poured into the project referred to as the \u2018Hengqin New Area\u2019. Dozens of major projects are being developed, all within walking distance of Macau, and only 34 nautical miles from Hong Kong. In the center of it all, the 106-square kilometer island is a new addition to the populous region, with clusters of developments targeting the high-profile sectors of culture, creativity, and knowledge.<\/p>\r\n

Gateways of Arts and Culture<\/h4>\r\n

The site of the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex is wedged between existing residential towers and an open city park, and Atelier Apeiron devised a strategy for creating an energetic complex capable of accommodating a multifunctional future. As part of that strategy, the firm espoused an architectural approach defined by large-scale porosity, adapted to the high-density urban context of the site\u2019s surroundings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-12\"<\/a>

Natural light in library
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-15\"<\/a>

Skylights in the art hall
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-19\"<\/a>

Overall view at night
\r\nPhoto credit: Yipeng Lv<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

On the lower level of the complex, Apeiron applied a geometric concept of inverted catenary to create three magnificent arches of differing shapes, articulating an architectural language that combines Chinese and Western elements. Each arch serves as a gateway to a different hall that is unique in both character and program. To draw natural light into the inherently dark spaces, the firm cut a skylight above the arches to form connections with the rooftop gardens, and also incorporated two diffuse reflectors that direct soft sunlight into the rooms. Composed of wood and bamboo panels, the arches provide a window of transparency between the facility and its surrounding urban life. By day, visitors will enjoy unobstructed external views of the adjacent park, while nights will be illuminated by the soft lighting emitted by the transparent arched halls, forming a stage background for a variety of public events to be held in the park.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-21\"<\/a>

Main facade from the park
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-22\"<\/a>

Night view from the mountain towards Macau
\r\nPhoto credit: Yipeng Lv<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-23\"<\/a>

Waterfront view
\r\nPhoto credit: Shengliang Su<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Above the archways, modular space units have been integrated into the design to ensure maximum flexibility options for a wide variety of future programs. Additionally, small spaces have been integrated into the arch joints to house equipment and building services.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-24\"<\/a>

Overall view
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-25\"<\/a>

Main facade in daylight
\r\nPhoto credit: Yipeng Lv<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-26\"<\/a>

Background of the park
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

A Diversity of Atmospheres<\/h4>\r\n

With the massive complex designed to house nine distinct functions - a library, an archives center, a concert hall, a cultural center, an art gallery, a science museum, a women's and children\u2019s activity center, an elderly activity center, and a youth activity center - Yunchao Xu\/Atelier Apeiron endeavored to desegregate the experience in order to create a truly communal sense of being. Designed as three urban living rooms, each arch leads into a unique space, comprising a Knowledge Hall, a Performance Hall, and an Exhibition Hall.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-27\"<\/a>

Three arches in the twilight
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-28\"<\/a>

Three arches in the twilight
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-29\"<\/a>

Horizontal vs vertical
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

In designing the Knowledge Hall, the firm drew inspiration from the Oodi library in Finland, where the function of the library has progressed beyond being just a space for reading services. Taking the concept of traditional libraries to new heights, the Knowledge Hall will feature a vertical village of crystal book blocks and will become a focal point of urban public activity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-2\"<\/a>

Reflection on the facade
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-3\"<\/a>

View from the park
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-4\"<\/a>

Top view of the roof gardens in the evening
\r\nPhoto credit: Yipeng Lv<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

The adjacent Performance Hall serves as a cultural performing arts center, with a large open stage and black box theater designed for productions of dance, music, theater, and opera. Finally, the Exhibition Hall is defined by its porous space, where strategically placed \u2018cheese holes\u2019 invite scatters of mysterious natural light into a space conceived as a host venue for exhibitions of art and science. Together, the three halls offer visitors a range of parallel world experiences, all within the confines of a single complex.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-5\"<\/a>

Sunken plaza under the cantilever
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-6\"<\/a>

South facade
\r\nPhoto credit: Hao Zhang<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-7\"<\/a>

Southwest facade
\r\nPhoto credit: Yipeng Lv<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

Integrated Landscape and Vistas<\/h4>\r\n

With its inspirations often derived from nature, Yunchao Xu\/Atelier Apeiron has incorporated natural prototypes into its design of the Hengqin Culture & Art Complex, including terraces, caves, and cliffs. A stacked, four-story arrangement of rooftop platforms provides stunning public views from serene environments, with living green balconies overlapping the urban structure, like park settings for hosting community-based events. In designing the gardens, the firm conducted multiple studies to ensure optimal sightlines from each of the platforms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-9\"<\/a>

Night view
\r\nPhoto credit: Position<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-11\"<\/a>

Book mountain
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>

\"adf-web-magazine-hengqin-culture-art-complex-yunchao-xu-atelier-apeiron-13\"<\/a>

Performance center
\r\nPhoto credit: Schran Image<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n

The base platform includes a semicircular stage and a circular auditorium, where the Macau Wedding Company will organize large-scale weddings, birthday parties, corporate team building activities, and much more. At 24-meters, a platform designed as a children's theme park features sand pits, expansive play facilities, restaurants, museums, and family cafes. At 30-meters, another platform provides a shared garden, with the addition of staff canteens and cafeterias for employees to rest and enjoy their environment. Finally, rising 36 meters, a rain garden platform serves as an environmental zone, integrating ecology, a low carbon footprint, and green technologies as a sort of ecological laboratory. A spiral staircase invites visitors to ascend to a bamboo garden, where serenity and quiet moments can be experienced while enjoying a cup of tea adjacent to the Sky Bookstore.<\/p>\r\n\n\t\t