British architectural firm Zaha Hadid Architects has unveiled new photographs of a distinctive high-rise building currently under construction in Shenzhen, China, which will serve as the headquarters for the Chen Yidan Foundation, an education-focused charity. The Yidan Center has recently reached the topping-out phase, marking a significant milestone in its construction progress.
The innovative building design features two towers with curved floor plates that converge at the top, creating a unique architectural silhouette against Shenzhen's skyline. A bridge element connects the towers partway up their height, while the rippling structure will be wrapped in glazing and horizontal louvers specifically designed to provide solar shading for the building's occupants.
Once completed, the Yidan Center will house the headquarters for both the Chen Yidan Foundation and the annual Yidan Prize, both established by entrepreneur and Tencent co-founder Chen Yidan. The building is strategically located near Qianhai Bay and aims to facilitate innovation in education through dedicated spaces for academic research, cultural events, and exhibitions.
Drawing inspiration from the mountainous landscape surrounding Shenzhen, Zaha Hadid Architects designed the void between the two towers to resemble a natural canyon. A low-level structure topped with planted terraces will sweep around the side of the high-rise, with staircases guiding visitors over the roof toward the open space between the towers. A circular skylight positioned in the floor between the towers will bring natural light into the interior spaces below.
"Informed by the canyons and valleys of the surrounding mountainous landscapes that have been used as routes of travel and communication for millennia, the Yidan Center is designed as a place of convergence and collaboration, emulating Shenzhen's position as a global hub of innovation and discovery," explained representatives from Zaha Hadid Architects. The firm emphasized that the design promotes connectivity and interaction while blurring the boundary between interior and exterior spaces.
The architectural concept incorporates terraces and balconies overlooking a central outdoor 'canyon,' with verdant gardens guiding visitors from the surrounding streets to the base of the center's canyon, offering views of the geological architectural formations overhead. This design approach reflects the firm's commitment to creating spaces that foster community interaction and learning.
Zaha Hadid Architects envisions the building becoming a cultural hub for learning innovation in Shenzhen. "Combining the resources of the Yidan Prize's worldwide network and the Chen Yidan Foundation's detailed knowledge of the education sector, the new Yidan Center will be home to research and practice platforms that promote lifelong learning and innovations in education," the firm stated. The center will also provide a nurturing environment for a broader community of institutions and organizations, supporting their growth and collectively fostering an effective ecosystem that shapes the future of education for the 21st century.
This project represents another addition to Zaha Hadid Architects' growing portfolio of buildings in China, which recently includes a curving footbridge supported by three white arches and a sinuous 60,000-seat football stadium. The Yidan Center stands as a testament to the firm's continued commitment to creating architecturally innovative spaces that serve educational and cultural purposes in China's rapidly developing urban landscape.
