Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre by Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre is located on the E-03 Plot at the center of Waigaoqiao New Town, adjacent to North Zhangyang Road to its east, just 100 meters from Zhouhai Road to its north, near the Zhouhai Road station along the Metro Line 6.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering Co,. Ltd. won the bidding for Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre in 2006, ushering in a new journey that would later last one decade. The authorities emphasizes in its master plan for the New Town that it expects the site to become a central business district with office blocks, hotels, business centres, conference centres and so forth.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

The project is expected to create a multi-purpose cultural and art centre to host literary and art performances, conferences, film screenings, art exhibitions, cultural, science education, reading and other public activities. Located near the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, the Centre is 6 km away from the Waigaoqiao Port.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

Given that the Port is home to shipping containers, financial and trade businesses, the architects involved anticipate the Centre to become an extension of the global image of this area that mirrors its cultural life. The architects employed simple approaches to highlight the building’s characteristics under the geographic context.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

Based on the “container culture” typical of such ports, they created a juxtaposition of distinct volumes with glass and metal to enhance the visual effects while ensuring the building functions in an energy-efficient manner. Meanwhile a series of indoor and outdoor spaces are designed to prompt more public activities.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

The huge “box” for exhibitions is raised on other volumes to establish a dialogue with the outside world. Its exterior space enclosed by glass ribs provides views of its surroundings, such as the light rail trains in movement where passengers can also spot the box, getting first impression of the area.

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The theatre is designed to mainly host literary and art performances and major conferences, occasionally film screenings. The two halls for dramas are accessible from the square through the sunken courtyard.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

The second floor which is accessible from the square connecting the out-door stair, accommodates a children’s wonderland , a multi-media corner,a reading room and a centre for the elderly.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

Space on this floor brings together the activities for both children and adults, and it’s featured by a huge bay window for the children’s wonderland there. The fifth floor is where spaces for entrepreneurs’ club, an exhibition hall,a wine bar and other training classrooms are located.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist

Construction on the Centre had to grind to a halt in 2009 for various reasons. No doubt it is an inspiration to the architects and the client that Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre is eventually completed in 2016. Source by Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
  • Location: Waigaoqiao New Town, Shanghai, China
  • Architects: Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering
  • Conceptual design: Huang Xiangming, Nie Xin, Xu Xiaojuan, Chen Haitao
  • Schematic design: Wu Xu, Chen Yang
  • Structural design: Deng Zhiyong, Wang Xiangjie
  • Mechanical and electrical design: Yu Hui, Zhao Xiangying, Yang Jun
  • Interior design: Shanghai XianDai Architects
  • Client: Shanghai Waigaoqiao New Town Development Management Co.,Ltd.
  • Floor area: 20,740 sqm
  • Site area: 12,000 sqm
  • Green ratio: 40%
  • Plot ratio: 1.2
  • Year: 2016
  • Photographs: Arch-Exist, Courtesy of Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre
Photo © Arch-Exist
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1 Comment

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