Jiaxing Hrnt Cultural Center

English description provided by the architects.

Conceived as the City Living Room and Eye of the Town, it anchors the community core, surrounded by residences, schools, and the hospital. It aims to provide the public with a high-quality, all-day accessible experience.

As a civic landmark with strong public appeal, it catalyzes the vitality of the new district, shaping future-oriented spaces while exemplifying the seamless integration of low-carbon technologies with the urban ecological environment.

Flexible spatial zoning and all-day service accommodate exhibitions, performances, and other cultural activities while ensuring resilience for future programmatic changes. Major volumes, such as the exhibition hall and theater, are located on the ground floor for accessibility and efficiency. The theater, with a separate northwest entrance, can operate independently on weekends and evenings, supporting the local night-time economy.

The under-roof area transforms into a three-dimensional public street—"three mountains embracing two rivers"— hovering above exhibition spaces, allowing citizens to stroll, enjoy urban scenery, and engage with culture without entering the galleries.

Rooftop plazas and elevated streets provide panoramic waterfront views. Rather than blocking the waterfront, the building enhances accessibility and participation, establishing a friendly, inclusive, and open environment.

ADAPTIVE SPATIAL STRATEGIES FOR URBAN RESILIENCE

The design responds to the region's mild, humid climate, using spatial hierarchy and massing to limit areas requiring heating or cooling.

Circulation paths and exhibition areas are transformed into semi-outdoor zones, reducing energy demand while enhancing spatial quality. Outdoor platforms, paired with BIPV canopies and native vegetation, create semi-outdoor activity spaces that improve the microclimate.

By responding to natural water level fluctuations, the design turns uncertainty into adaptive potential, establishing a resilient landscape paradigm that addresses climate variability.

DESIGNING FOR COMFORT AND HUMANITY

The project embraces a "form-performance synergy" approach, integrating architectural form, environmental performance, and human experience.

The canopy not only improves semi-outdoor spatial quality but also serves as a distinctive city landmark.

Spatial organization and lighting are coordinated to ensure even, comfortable illumination, while intelligent controls allow multifunctional spaces to adapt for performances, exhibitions, or conferences, enhancing both functionality and user experience.

Acoustic performance is enhanced through simulation-driven design: perforated curved panels with Helmholtz resonance absorb targeted frequencies on stage, while MLS diffusers evenly scatter sound in audience areas to prevent reflection issues and improve clarity.

It introduces a "flexible cable–rigid support synergy" system: high-strength prestressed cables form rhythmic spatial trusses that carry horizontal loads while creating continuous, lightweight forms;

The roof serves as a multi-functional medium for daylighting, energy generation, and rainwater management, exemplifying synergy between form, structure, and performance in low-carbon architecture.

Complex areas are clad in aluminum panels, while square skylights with diffused ETFE provide uniform natural light for semi-outdoor spaces.

A steel-wood composite roof, elevated 1.1 m, accommodates PV arrays and drainage, with parametric modeling and 3D scanning ensuring precise construction and light-shadow effects.

PV generation feeds multiple subsystems to enhance resilience, while DC systems supply end devices directly, reducing conversion losses. Energy dispatch follows a "PV first, storage-assisted, grid backup" principle, optimizing renewable energy use across all scenarios.