Flowing roofs define Zaha Hadid Architects' new Shaoxing culture center design

Zaha Hadid Architects has won the pitch to design the Zhejiang Shaoxing Shangyu District Cao’e River Culture and Art Centre, a central component of a new cultural quarter in Shaoxing, China. 

The ambitious project will feature a 1,400-seat grand theater, a 500-seat multifunctional hall, an arts and education center, a conference center, a heritage museum, and a digital art gallery, all spanning an expansive riverside site.

Inspired by the region’s vernacular architecture, the architects say the design integrates flowing roofs and terraced landscapes that connect the complex to the historic Cao’e River. Outdoor courtyards and garden spaces further extend the center’s gathering areas, offering both cultural and recreational opportunities.

The design responds to Shaoxing’s subtropical climate with large, sloping roofs that provide shading and reduce solar heat gain. Solar analysis shaped the roofs' geometries, creating self-shading zones and incorporating photovoltaic panels to minimize reliance on municipal energy. 

ZHA says the center's rooflines honor the area's architectural heritage. They evoke the craftsmanship of glazed tiles on pitched roofs, blending tradition with contemporary functionality. 

Elsewhere in China, the firm is currently working on a number of major commissions, including Chengdu's 'Unicorn Island' tech hub, the 46-story Shenzhen Institute of Financial Technology, the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum, Wuhan's Taikang Financial Centre, and the XRL Topside Development in Hong Kong.