‘changsha culture and art center’ by coop himmelb(l)au, changsha, hunan, chinaimage © ISOCHROM / coop himmelb(l)au architecture

 

 

coophimmelb(l)au‘s proposal for the international culture and art center along the the meixi lake posits architecture-as-object, arranged like precious parts of urban chinese garden. the rapidly developing area at the foothills is flanked by water and a burgeoning metropolis. the proposal seeks to thicken the landscape with undulating architectural forms containing recreational facilities. traditional elements of chinese gardens like stones, hills, bridges and flowers are abstracted and transformed in scale so as to animate the urban shapes of the daheexi district. rooftops become landscapes and pedestrian networks. a sweeping waterfront promenade closes the gap between east and west while orchestrating circulation toward a generous, theater-front plaza. an interior ‘grand foyer’ contains a system of bridges, stairs and platforms that create a performative pre-stage to the layered opera house. despite the ultimate selection of zaha hadid’s proposal, coophimmelb(l)au was one of five firms invited to submit a design for the megaplex in changsha.  

 

 

coop himmelb(l)au: changsha meixihu culture and art center proposal

a view of the sweeping, connective promenade and green-topped compleximage © ISOCHROM / coop himmelb(l)au architecture

 

 

coop himmelb(l)au: changsha meixihu culture and art center proposal

the grand foyer is characterized by a theatrical network of stairs and bridgesimage © ISOCHROM / coop himmelb(l)au architecture

 

 

coop himmelb(l)au: changsha meixihu culture and art center proposal

the theater contains twisting leading to an ample stage image © ISOCHROM / coop himmelb(l)au architecture

 

 

coop himmelb(l)au: changsha meixihu culture and art center proposal

grand theater interiorimage © ISOCHROM / coop himmelb(l)au

 

 

coop himmelb(l)au: changsha meixihu culture and art center proposal

model image © coop himmelb(l)au

 

 

coop himmelb(l)au: changsha meixihu culture and art center proposal

site planimage © coop himmelb(l)au

 

 

coop himmelb(l)au: changsha meixihu culture and art center proposal

site strategyimage © coop himmelb(l)au

 

 

coop himmelb(l)au: changsha meixihu culture and art center proposal

sectionimage © coop himmelb(l)au

 

 

project info:

 

competition: 2011gross floo r area: 416 500m²client:changsha meixihu industrial co., ltd.structure:b+g ingenieure / bollinger und grohmann gmbh, prof. klaus bollingeracoustics:M BBMmep:buro happold ltd, bath,uk; steve mace