Light and Space to Breathe

[Photos: João Palla Martins]

Analysis

A hop across to Hengqin on a sunny Sunday, not for lunch or even shopping, but to see a couple of buildings was how the trip was presented to us the day before. With a mix of visa waivers for the passport holders and e-gates for the permanent residents, access to Hengqin over the Lotus Bridge from Macau, even at the last-minute, is no longer something to hesitate about.

The Hengqin Culture & Art Complex by architects Yunchao Xu/Atelier Apeiron was just one autonomous bus-stop away from the border gate. The excitement was already high after finding this transportation novelty and pure delight over the successful use of payment apps for the one RMB fare.

Completed in 2024, this 142,560m2 facility is to be a community focal point for entertainment, creative exhibition and knowledge spaces. According to the description provided by the architects, the expansive complex will house nine distinct functions: a library, an archives centre, a concert hall, a cultural centre, an art gallery, a science museum, a women’s and children’s activity centre, an elderly activity centre, and a youth activity centre. It is designed as three urban living rooms, each announced by individual great arches. The Exhibition Hall as yet stands empty, but opens across the width of the building with “gouda cheese” holes drawing light from above. The Knowledge Hall – inspired by the Oodi library in Finland – is to become a focal point for community activity. The adjacent Performance Hall is expansive and bright; an amphitheatre-style space welcoming to even the most-timid of visitors. As luck would have it, a group of children were swaying to music as they sang in rehearsal, giving us a chance to experience the soundscape. Above the acoustic display we found an exhibition by 15 Macau artists on the duality of Macau and Hengqin in the reading area of the complex – part of the Knowledge Hall: depicted were Macau of deep historical “sediment and highly compressed urban fabric” and the futuristic Hengqin of rapid construction and masterful planning.

Architecture as an Open Invitation

Duality was also felt in the lack of officiousness and ease of welcome offered to this curious bunch of eclectic outsiders. We were guided into a porcelain exhibition and then back again with the offer to explore the floors above. A wedding venue on the 4th level opened out upon an expansive series of curves, drawing us upwards across gardens uniquely – for this region – landscaped with grasses and vertical vines. There was a weird feeling of nature’s expansiveness up there; the sound of silence of fields with far horizons. Nothing like I have experienced in city areas before. That duality of Macau and Hengqin echoed again.

Hengqin Culture and Art Complex, rooftop garden [Photos: João Palla Martins]

Community cultural events on the shores of the Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Center’s ZhongXin lake [Photos: João Palla Martins]

Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Center Photo: Luis Chan]

This terraced roof garden is a space for the community to enjoy but staff could not tell us what the limits to that enjoyment might be. With gentle smiles we were told that perhaps we could bring a picnic, but we would have to clean up after ourselves – pleasantly and surprisingly lacking in officious limitations. Not one “cannot” was spoken. There was a free easiness of welcome that told of a genuine hospitality.

Icons in the Making: Hengqin’s Expanding Cultural Spine

A short walk away stands the Tianmu Qin Terrace, another architectural icon of the GBA. Drawing inspiration from the guqin – a Chinese zither – the sweeping curves symbolise the ideal harmonious coexistence of nature and humanity. The design concept was put forward by Dr Fu Guohua, the founder of KFS International Architects, with collaboration by other design groups. This is another cultural hub but includes commercial elements such as offices, a hotel to be opened later this month and an exhibition centre. The sheer scale of these developments hints of the population and economic growth still to come. Taking the opportunity to document history before that take-off, we took photos of our shenanigans down the middle of momentarily empty Hengqin roads.

From Landmark to Living System

Didi! We blissfully caught a Didi to the Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Center. Back into the hustle and bustle of Zhuhai streets, another icon of a building was reflected in surrounding waters of ZhongXin lake. The weather fine, children and youth performed in brilliant costumes to music of places far away, celebrating diverse community traditions. Colour was everywhere by the shopping centre lakeside. Some children were fishing, others flew kites. In contrast stood the metallic grey of the Civic Art Center. It is best initially viewed from this aspect – from the shores of the lake – to appreciate its expansiveness, a common theme with these iconic buildings. Access to the building which defines the island is via two bridges, one from either side of the lake, giving a sense of architectural promenade extending from the pathways, cafes and restaurants surrounding it. Of the same architects as Macau’s Morpheus, Zaha Hadid, this building stands in the heart of Aviation New City and houses a performing arts centre, an interactive science centre, and an art museum. The repetition of symmetrical latticed steel canopies in chevron patterns of migratory birds offset against clear blue skies provides a similar appeal as the horizons of the rooftop gardens seen earlier in Hengqin.

Zhuhai Jinwan [Just Do it] Civic Art Center [Photo: João Palla Martins]

Although manmade, these buildings produce the same sense of awe and wonder as spaces of scale and openness in nature. Similarly, they currently stand majestically stark and alone, yet to be filled with the energies, movement and sounds of the people and community. The harmonious coexistence of nature and humanity evoked by the design of these buildings should eventuate as they attract other elements towards them; eventually establishing a mature and resilient community eco-system. Reflecting humanity’s inter-being with nature, the Jinwan Civic Center is integrated into the natural hydrology as part of Zhuhai’s Sponge City initiative: natural water storage, permeation, aquatic flora and fauna are used as natural filters for decontamination and reuse of 70% of the city’s rainwater. A passive solar design and materials optimised for thermal performance ensure minimal energy loss and solar gain.

Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Center, exhibition space/art museum [Photo: João Palla Martins]

Each of these community hubs is at a different stage in their evolution of integration as spaces grounded in community and natural eco-systems. In such a short period of time since their opening and given the kindness and happiness of those we met in connection with these buildings, community and urban development in the GBA is clearly founded on the meeting of great minds, generosity of spirit and deep resources.

Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Center – promenade footbridge access [Photo: João Palla Martins]

If these buildings are any indication, the GBA is well on its way to becoming a quality living circle of culture, creativity, exchange, and leisure. How we connect in community has been forgotten in many parts of the world and we are beginning to relearn how to live well together. It is said to be created via 5 sacred pathways: food as medicine – a shared meal of nature’s abundance; nature connection; ceremony & ritual; village making – gatherings together; and art as medicine. These iconic architectural creations embody those pathways and can provide the heart of community making in the GBA. By Leanda Lee