ZHA has been selected to design the Zhejiang Shaoxing Shangyu District Cao‘e River Culture and Art Centre, the cornerstone of the new cultural quarter within the Shangyu District of Shaoxing in China’s Zhejiang province.

Designed to host local and international productions of opera, dance and drama together with large-scale symphonies and musical theatre, the Art and Culture Centre includes a 1,400-seat Grand Theatre, 500-seat Black-Box Multifunctional Hall, 2,900 sq. m Arts and Education Centre, 3,000 sq. m Conference Centre, 7,500 sq. m Heritage Museum and a 10,000 sq. m Digital Art Gallery.

On the banks of the historic Cao‘e River, the Culture and Art Centre’s sheltered courtyards are an extension of the centre’s interiors. These outdoor gathering spaces flow into terraced landscapes which surround the centre and connect directly with the city, giving Shaoxing’s residents and visitors a variety of natural parklands and gardens for relaxation and recreation along the river.

Integrating multiple levels of public spaces and technical infrastructure to host performances of dance and theatre within the centre’s courtyards and foyers, the design honours the rich tradition and craftsmanship of glazed tiles upon pitched roofs within the region's vernacular architecture. Creating an interconnected composition of roofs that flow above the timeless river landscapes, the Cultural and Art Centre establishes a new, yet highly recognizable, silhouette informed by the area’s historical architecture.