Culture Center Zhanjiang
A New Cultural Anchor for the Bay of Zhanjiang
The Zhanjiang Cultural Center forms a new cultural identity for the southern Chinese port city. Its architecture translates the dynamics of the mesh dragon dance into a powerful spatial motif that unfolds across the roofscape, façade structure, and urban positioning. This movement gives the ensemble a distinctive recognizability and a strong presence along the bay.
An open cultural campus linking theaters, museums, educational spaces, and public areas into a continuous urban experience
A dynamic silhouette inspired by the traditional mesh dragon dance
A textured façade recalling woven fishing nets, capturing light and reflections from the water
A spatial sequence that connects cultural zones both horizontally and vertically with the city and the bay
The movement of the mesh dragon dance, a local ritual with sweeping, interwoven choreographic figures shape the overall dynamic of the ensemble. This overarching motif continues materially in the façade. The triangulated glass‑and‑aluminium grid evokes traditional fishing nets, transforming the cultural reference into a shimmering texture.
The ensemble is conceived as an open cultural campus. Squares, promenades, and the sunken outdoor area connect the various uses, keeping the building active beyond performance hours. The Grand Theatre, Multifunctional Theatre, Museum and Art Gallery are linked horizontally through a clear spatial sequence. Vertically, a system of atria, ramps, and open connections leads up to the publicly accessible Sky Promenade. This promenade connects the cultural areas with the waterfront and creates an urban experience that functions alongside educational spaces and commercial offerings independent of performance schedules.
The cultural center brings together three distinct performance venues:
Grand Theatre: With 1,500 seats, it forms the cultural core and accommodates opera, orchestral performances, and large-scale stage productions.
Multifunctional Theatre: Equipped with flexible stage technology and fully retractable seating, it supports formats ranging from film screenings to electronic music.
Sunken Outdoor Theatre: This lowered performance space connects interior and exterior through a movable partition and can shift between stage and public gathering spot.
The outdoor spaces form a layered landscape of open plazas, green areas, and a sunken amphitheater that serves both as an everyday meeting place and as a performance venue. Below the podium, a sheltered zone emerges that unites city and culture both functionally and atmospherically. The architecture creates a fluid transition between built form and the character of the bay.
The building responds to the climatic conditions of its coastal location. The softly modelled rooflines are shaped to optimize airflow, while the robust metal and glass elements ensure long‑term durability in the maritime climate.
- Project
- Culture Center
- Location
- Zhanjiang
- Client
- Zhanjiang Haiquan Investment Development Co., Ltd
- GFA
- 92.000 m²
- Services
- Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture
- Completion
- 2025
- Uses
- Grand Theatre, Multifunctional Theatre, Museum, Art Gallery, educational spaces, commercial areas, public promenade
