A Multifaceted Centre Dedicated to the Arts by Zaha Hadid Architects

An ensemble of three separate institutions, the Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre designed by Zaha Hadid Architects plays host to a riveting art and culture scene

The largest and most versatile cultural centre in the Hunan province of China, the Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre incorporates a contemporary art museum (MICA), an 1,800-seat theatre with supporting facilities, and a multipurpose hall. Its organic architectural language is defined by pedestrian routes that weave through the site to connect with neighbouring streets. Providing views of the adjacent Meixi Lake from the city and giving access to the parks and walking trails on the lake’s Festival Island, this ensemble of three separate cultural institutions creates external courtyards where pedestrian routes intersect for outdoor events and sculpture exhibitions. The Culture & Arts Centre also connects directly with its station on Line 2 of Changsha’s new Metro System.

Located along the historic trade routes through China, the city of Changsha’s traditions as an important centre of communication continues as one of the country’s leading media hubs, with the centre’s Grand Theatre hosting a popular programme of performances and television productions. Designed for the widest variety of performing arts, the Grand Theatre provides all front-of-house functions in sculpted lobbies, bars and hospitality suites, as well as the necessary ancillary functions including administration offices, rehearsal studios, backstage logistics, wardrobe and dressing rooms.

With eight juxtaposed exhibition galleries totalling 10,000 sq m and centred around an atrium for large-scale installations and events, the MICA art museum also includes dedicated spaces for community workshops, a lecture theatre, café and museum shop. The Small Theatre is characterized by its flexibility. This multipurpose hall with a capacity to seat 500 can be transformed into different configurations to accommodate a broad range of functions and performances, which span from short plays, fashion shows and music performances to banquets and commercial events.

Totalling 1,15,000 sq m, these three civic institutions are uniquely defined and separate, yet complement each other with different opening timings creating vitality throughout the day and evening. The theatre becomes active as the art museum begins to conclude its day-time operations, whilst the variety of events in the smaller theatre ensure it is being used at all times.

FACTFILE

Project: Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre, China

Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), London

Client: Meixihu Investment (Changsha)

Local Design Institute: Beijing Architecture Design and Research Institute (South China)

Status: Built

Size: 1,15,000 sq m

Year of Completion: 2017 – Grand Theatre, 2019 – MICA

ZHA Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher

ZHA Project Director: Woody Yao, Simon Yu

ZHA Project Leader: Simon Yu

ZHA Project Associate: Eddie Can

ZHA Project Team: Zhenjiang Guo, Charles Kwan, Fei Wang, Pravin Ghosh, Neil Sansom, Jinqi Huang, Thomas Jensen, Justin Kelly, Wandy Mulia, Uli Schifferdecker, David Chen, Adrian Aguirre Herrera, Aurora Santana, Koren Sin, Johanna Huang, Yifan Zhang, Collin Spelts, Wei You, Fei Liang, Adam Fingrut, Yitzhak Samun

ZHA Schematic Design: Zhenjiang Guo, Charles Kwan, Jinqi Huang

ZHA Museum Design: Tariq Khayyat, Kutbuddin Nadiadi, Diego Rossel, Gerry Cruz, Matteo Melioli, Xiaosheng Li, Yuxi Fu, Thomas Jensen, Matthew Johnson, Justin Kelly, Drew Merkle

ZHA Competition Team

ZHA Project Architect: Tiago Correia

ZHA Project Team: Victor Orive, Fabiano Continanza, Zhenjiang Guo, Danilo Arsic, Ines Fontoura, Rafael González, Alejandro Díaz, Jimena Araiza

ZHA Concept Development: Hannes Schafelner, Philipp Ostermaier, Jakub Klaska, Maren Klasing, Saman Saffarian, Martin Krcha, Maria Tsironi, Spyridon Kaprinis

Consultants

Structural Engineers & Building Services: Beijing Architecture Design and Research Institute (South China)

Facade Engineering: Newtechnic (UK), PFT Construction Consulting (Shanghai)

Specialist Acoustics Consultants to the Architect: Marshall Day Acoustics (Hong Kong & Melbourne)

Project Acoustical Consultants: Zhang Kuisheng Acoustical Design Research Studio (Shanghai)

Theatre Management Consultants: Poly Theatre Engineering Consultancy (Beijing)

Theatre Equipment Consultants: Kunkel Theatre
Engineering & Consulting (Beijing)

Museum Management Consultants: Global Cultural Asset Management (New York)

Specialist Lighting Consultants: Brandston Partnership (Shanghai)

Landscape Consultants: Aecom (Shenzhen)

Transport Consultants: Sinclair Knight Merz (Shanghai)

Project Management: Shanghai Gao Shen Consultants (Shanghai)

General Contractor: Beijing Urban Construction Group

Contractors for Façade: Jangho Group, Yuanda Group

Contractors for Interiors: Hongtao Group, Gold Mantis Construction Group, ZFT Holdings

Structural, Facade & Building Services Engineering (Competition Stage): Buro Happold Engineering

Theatre Consultants (Competition Stage): Theatre Projects Consultants