XIASHA TECH-CULTURE CENTER

Hangzhou occupies a very important position in Chinese culture with its historical culture and natural scenery represented by the famous West Lake. Hangzhou is one of the most pros­perous cities in the country, with a very rich architectural and cultural heritage and a significant connection to its past as well as a strong link to Nature.

The project is located in Xiasha, East of Hangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone. New development projects in this area need to use symbolic landmark buildings to attract local tourists and attract foreign investment. With its rapid development, it is very important to express Xiasha District identity with an iconic and representative architecture. This project is in response to this demand, and enhanced by the prominent location of the site at the center of the district’s cultural area.

The site is adjacent to an artificial body of water composed of irregular small green islands. There are also some larger green areas that provide a more substantial natural environment and create a sufficient buffer zone protecting from noise pollution. Views towards the lake are also very important for the location and orientation of the buildings on site.

The project site is easily accessible by means of public transport such as subways and buses. A large underpass is placed directly below the main road, connecting the squares in front of the two buildings. Good liquidity is formed in the north-south area. The green promenade raises a nice path, making it easy to reach and enjoy the waterside scenery.

The site is located on the North and South sides of a pathway and crossed by a motorway that divides it in two disjoint areas. In order to connect to two areas, we push the terrain into two gentle slopes on both sides in correspondence of the road and create a pedestrian underground passage that links the boulevard, the new library and the government office center, and leads to the lakeside landscape area.

The Library program that requires access to natural light is distributed on the perimeter of the building. The ceiling is shaped with a 2m slope that guides the flow of people to the ground floor of the building that is connected to the adjacent boulevards and the government office center. The main plan of the Library is terraces to meet the needs of the diverse program.

The upper part is designed as a floating box containing archive storage, Technology Museum and Youth Center. Due to the scale of the top volume, the introduction and use of natural light is crucial. The pattern designed for the upper volume is determined according to space and program requirements. The blocks can be flexibly changed according to different functional needs. The roof gaps created by the dividing lines bring natural light into the interior.

Both natural light and natural ventilation are introduced into the interior through the side glass curtain wall and the block-shaped top surface gaps.

A diverse range of event functions are provided for the Grand Theater. The functions accommodating the public are rationally stacked in a multi-storey block. The functions related to exhibition are located in a single storey slab intersecting horizontally the main volume. In correspondence to the intersection is the main stage of the theater. Multiple events can be held at the same time in the exhibition area of the Grand Theater as the event spaces and their individual entrances are separate. 

The two volumes are then seamlessly joint by a cladding that covers them like a fabric on which horizontal openings provide the necessary natural light and ventilation to the interior space. Sky-lounges with stunning views over the lake are then opened on the rooftop for VIP guests.