Anji Culture and Art Center
MAD Architects, spearheaded by principal architects Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, and Yosuke Hayano, has revealed the design for the Anji Culture and Art Center. Nestled in the picturesque Zhejiang Province of China, near Shanghai, Anji has earned accolades such as the “United Nations Habitat Award” and is celebrated as the epitome of a “bamboo” and “white tea” town in China.
Spanning an impressive 149,000 square meters, the Anji Culture and Art Center is a testament to MAD Architects’ commitment to seamlessly blend with the natural and urban landscapes. Positioned between the cityscape on the east and the river and mountains on the west, the center acts as a transitional space, connecting the built environment with the region’s natural beauty.
Comprising six distinct venues—Grand Theater, Conference Center, Leisure Center, Sports Center, Youth Activity Center, and Art Education Center—the project is strategically placed beneath an undulating “bamboo leaves” roof, harmonizing with Anji’s renowned green tea fields.
A hallmark of the project is its porous design, providing public accessibility from all directions throughout the day. The central corridor serves as an open outdoor platform, offering framed views of the surrounding mountains and sky. Multiple courtyards act as programmatic gaps, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The high point of the Anji Culture and Art Center is a series of overlapping metal roofs resembling scattered bamboo leaves. This design not only adds visual complexity but also allows natural light to permeate the interior. The main façade, reaching up to 17 meters, stands as the highest self-supporting glass wall in China, emphasizing transparency and inviting abundant natural light.
Scheduled for completion in 2025, the center boasts a range of venues, including a Grand Theater with a 1,300-seat auditorium and a Conference Center capable of hosting events for 2,000 people. To enhance sustainability, the project incorporates green roofs, permeable pavement, recessed green spaces, and rainwater resource utilization.
As construction is underway, the Anji Culture and Art Center is poised to become a cultural landmark, seamlessly integrating architectural innovation with the natural wonders of its surroundings.
