Changzhou Culture Center / gmp Architekten

gmp Architekten was recently awarded the first prize in the international competition to build the Culture Center in the newly created Changzhou city center. With a total floor area of 365,000 square meters, the building in this city of three million, between Wuxi and Nanjing, is six times the size of the Louvre in Paris. Reflecting elements of Changzhou’s southern Chinese culture and the city’s prominent water features, their design includes a number of museums such as an arts museum, a science and technology museum and a library, together with service facilities supporting the center for culture in the Xinbei district of the city. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The building modules – which cantilever bridge-like in a large arc – consist of six 45 metre-high pavilions which vary significantly inside with their different architectural functions, but form a visual whole from the outside. The space between the art gallery to the east and the science and technology museum to the west forms the public plaza in the center of Changzhou. With its water features and generous landscaping, it provides an inviting ambiance and serves as a meeting point in the district.

On the 256,000 square meter basement floor are an underground car park as well as numerous shop and retail areas which are lit by light wells and which are directly connected with the cultural facilities. A water course on the lower level running diagonally through the 100,000 square meter site links all the modules together and acts as a source of lighting for the restaurants in the basement.

With its material and color, the façade picks up on the regional building tradition: staggered grey slate creates a solid external impression which is contrasted by the bright surfaces with white elements and transparent glass façades on the inside of the buildings.

Architects: gmp Architekten
Location: Changzhou, China
Chinese Partner: Wei Wu
Competition Team: Martin Friedrich, Sebastian Schmidt, Kong Bu Hong, Jiang Lan Lan, Yao Yao, Zhang Zhen, Gao Shu San, Dominika Gnatowicz, Sa Xiaodong
Structural Design: schlaich bergermann and partners
Landscape Design: WES & Partners
Client: Changzhou Jinling Investment and Construction Co., Ltd
Gross Floor Area: 365,000 m²
GFA Library: 32,800 m²
GFA Art Gallery: 20,600 m²
GFA Science and Technology Museum: 18,300 m²
GFA Service Facilities: 37,300 m²
GFA Basement Floors: 256,000 m²
Competition: 2012 – 1st prize