Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wp-graphql domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/awards.azuremagazine.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114

Notice: Function _load_textdomain_just_in_time was called incorrectly. Translation loading for the wordpress-seo domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /var/www/awards.azuremagazine.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114

Notice: Constant WP_MEMORY_LIMIT already defined in /var/www/awards.azuremagazine.com/wp-config.php on line 108
AZ Awards 2020 Winner: Aranya Art Centre - AZ Awards | AZ Awards
Search AZ Awards ...
Awards By Category

After signing on to design the Aranya Art Center in the northeastern Chinese port of Qinhuangdao, Shanghai-based architects Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu were struck, they say, by the scenic coastal city’s stillness and spirituality, qualities that inspired this uniquely contemplative temple to the arts. The charcoal-toned building, made to resemble a rock weathered by water and time, exerts an almost gravitational pull.

The exterior is a masterful display of concrete and its possible textures, from a smooth form finish to a rough, rugged aggregate. Rows of geometrically faceted modular panels create an engaging pattern of light and shadow across the facade, occasionally interrupted by blackened bronze-framed windows with exaggerated sills. 

Behind the building’s heavy exterior, though, is a starkly different ambience. Inside, bright white curving walls surround a conical void in the palest concrete. Lined with circular stepped seating, the space is a piece of performance art in and of itself, inviting visitors to meet, sit and observe the natural rhythms of sky, sun and rain through the oculus that caps it. The nearby ocean is evoked through the central stage of this courtyard-cum-amphitheatre, which, when filled with water, transforms into a shallow pool. The core is also wrapped with a connective ramp linking five exhibition spaces (a café and a multi-purpose gallery are on the ground floor). Along the ascent are periodic glimpses into the atrium via narrow horizontal openings and balconies built for one, reinforcing the notion that art is both a collective and a deeply personal experience. 

“A stunning execution of space, material and form, collaborating to create a place of beauty and welcome.”
Marion Weiss, AZ Awards juror

Large bamboo doors with bronze pulls and warm cove lighting accent the monochromatic palette of the building, guiding movement from one space to the next. A 360-degree view of the central court is revealed at the very top of the ramp — a fitting conclusion to this community-minded art centre.  

Location Qinhuangdao, China Firm Neri&Hu Design and Research Office (Shanghai, China) Team Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu with Nellie Yang, Jerry Guo, Utsav Jain, Lili Cheng, Ellen Chen, Josh Murphy, Zoe Gao and Susana Sanglas

Winner: Buildings Over 1,000SqM
AZ Awards 2020 Winner: Aranya Art Centre

In Qinhuangdao, China, this stunning cultural centre by Neri&Hu is the winner in Architecture: Buildings Over 1,000 Square Metres.

Explore more Award Winners

2023
Award of MeritBuildings Over 1,000SqM
Location
Houston, U.S.
Firm
Kevin Daly Architects, U.S.
2013
People’s ChoiceBuildings Over 1,000SqM
Location
Mexico City
Firm
FR-EE Fernando Romero Enterprise, Mexico City
Team
Fernando Romero, with Mauricio Ceballos
2016
Award of MeritBuildings Over 1,000SqM
Location
Stanford, U.S.
Firm
ZGF Architects, U.S.