The Changsha Meixi Lake International Cultural and Art Center, designed and constructed by Zaha Hadid Architects, comprises a Contemporary Art Gallery (MICA), a grand theater seating 1,800 guests, and a versatile small theater. The design thoughtfully considers pedestrian flow around the site, organically linking the building to the surrounding community.
While offering scenic views of Meixi Lake, the architects created a convenient pathway for residents to access the island and park within the lake. Visitors can enjoy the ambiance of the three internal courtyards, participate in outdoor activities, and engage with the sculpture exhibitions.
Changsha has historically been a significant city for commerce and trade. This project, the largest and most diverse cultural center in Hunan, is directly connected to Changsha’s newly completed Metro Line 2. The Cultural Center’s Grand Theater has become a premier venue for performances and recording programs, establishing itself as a leading cultural and media hub in China.
To accommodate diverse performance types, the Grand Theatre includes a full range of facilities: a lobby, bar, reception room, administrative offices, rehearsal halls, backstage areas, dressing rooms, and changing rooms, all thoughtfully arranged. Surrounding the atrium are eight exhibition spaces totaling approximately 10,000 square meters, capable of hosting large-scale installations.
The Contemporary Art Museum offers dedicated spaces for workshops, lectures, cafes, and gallery shops, enriching the cultural experience.
Grand Theater Performance Hall
Besides the grand theater, the small theater within the center offers flexibility and adaptability. Its 500 movable seats can be arranged to host a variety of events such as small performances, fashion shows, music events, and banquets.
The three major venues of the Meixi Lake International Cultural and Art Center span a total of 115,000 square meters. Each space has distinct characteristics and operates independently, allowing them to open at different times and maintain active use around the clock. With the Contemporary Art Museum now open regularly, the center is gradually fulfilling its potential as a vibrant cultural hub. The small theater supports activities during periods when the art museum is open, ensuring continuous engagement.
Internal Ceiling
Project Drawings
▲ First Floor Plan of the Art Museum
▲ Second Floor Plan of the Art Museum
▲ Mezzanine Plan on the Second Floor of the Art Museum
▲ Fourth Floor Plan of the Art Museum
▲ Roof Plan of the Art Museum
▲ Art Museum Facade 1
▲ Art Museum Facade 2
▲ Art Museum Section 1
▲ Art Museum Section 2
▲ Second Floor Plan of the Grand Theater
▲ Third Floor Plan of the Grand Theater
▲ Front View of the Grand Theater 1
▲ Front View of the Grand Theater 2
▲ Front View of the Grand Theater 3
▲ Section 1 of the Grand Theater
▲ Section 2 of the Grand Theater
▲ First Floor Plan of the Small Theater
▲ Second Floor Plan of the Small Theater
▲ Fifth Floor Plan of the Small Theater
Project Information
Project Type: Cultural Center
Project Location: Changsha City, China
Architectural Design: Zaha Hadid Architects
Area: 115,000 square meters
Year of Completion: 2019
Photographers: Virgile Simon Bertrand, Seven 7 Panda
Conceptual Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Project Directors: Woody Yao, Simon Yu
Project Manager: Simon Yu
Project Team: Zhenjiang Guo, Charles Kwan, Jinqi Huang, Neil Sansom, Pravin Ghosh, Thomas Jensen, Justin Kelly, Wandy Mulia, Uli Schifferdecker, Adrian Aguirre Herrera, Aurora Santana, Koren Sin, Johanna Huang, Yifan Zhang, Collin Spelts, Fei Liang, Adam Fingrut, Yitzhak Samun
Preliminary Scheme Design: Zhenjiang Guo, Charles Kwan, Jinqi Huang
Art Museum Design: Tariq Khayyat, Kutbuddin Nadiadi, Diego Rossel, Gerry Cruz, Matteo Melioli, Xiaosheng Li, Yuxi Fu, Thomas Jensen, Matthew Johnson, Justin Kelly, Drew Merkle
Collaborating Design Institute: Guangzhou Pearl River Foreign Investment Architectural Designing Institute (Guangzhou, China)
Structural Engineer: Guangzhou Pearl River Foreign Investment Architectural Designing Institute (Guangzhou, China)
Acoustic Design Consultant: Marshall Day Acoustics (Hong Kong & Melbourne)
Acoustic Design Assistance: Zhang Kuisheng Acoustic Design Research Studio (Shanghai, China)
Theater Management Consulting: Poly Theatre Engineering Consultancy (Beijing) Co. Ltd
Theater Equipment Consulting: Kunkel Theatre Engineering & Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Art Museum Management Consulting: Global Cultural Asset Management (New York)
Transportation Design Consulting: Sinclair Knight Merz (Shanghai, China)
Project Collaboration Leader: Shanghai Gao Shen Consultants Ltd. (Shanghai, China)
Competition Design Team: ZHA Project Architect: Tiago Correia; ZHA Project Team: Victor Orive, Fabiano Continanza, Zhenjiang Guo, Danilo Arsic, Ines Fontoura, Rafael González, Alejandro Díaz, Jimena Araiza; ZHA Concept Development: Hannes Schafelner, Philipp Ostermaier, Jakub Klaska, Maren Klasing, Saman Saffarian, Martin Krcha, Maria Tsironi, Spyridon Kaprinis
Competition Consultants: Structural, Facade & Building Services Engineering: BuroHappold Engineering; Theatre Consultants: Theatre Projects Consultants; Acoustics Consultants: Marshall Day Acoustics
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