The city of Sanya in Hainan, China, has chosen Zaha Hadid Architects as the winner of the design competition for its New Harbor Cultural District. This ambitious project covers a total construction area of 409,000 square meters and aims to become the heart of cultural life in Sanya. It will host a diverse range of programs including performing arts, theater, exhibition halls, conferences, and commercial exhibitions.
The building’s fluid design creates a seamless transition from the tropical waters of Sanya Bay to the urban landscape. A central axis divides the outward-sloping, layered roofs, giving the structure a dynamic and intangible volume.
The new district is situated at the entrance of Sanya Port and connects to the city’s residential and hotel areas via a network of cars and trams. The central axis shapes the overall design and defines the internal functional layout. On one side, spaces are dedicated to performing arts and exhibitions; on the other, commercial facilities for conferences and expos are planned. Between these two zones lies a public square open to the harbor.
The layered roof design draws inspiration from sails fluttering in the sea breeze. These layers fan out from the central axis, enclosing the entrance halls of both the performing arts theater and the conference center. The building’s bold volumetric form faces the port, while tiered public terraces offer sweeping views of the waterfront.
Additional features include public squares, gardens, yacht docks, and seaside promenades, enhancing the district’s vibrant atmosphere. Nearby residential, hotel, shopping, and dining facilities add further diversity and convenience for visitors and locals alike.
Taking into account Hainan Province’s monsoon climate, the design optimizes natural factors such as orientation, composition, and landscaping to maximize natural ventilation and sunlight. The building follows low-carbon principles throughout design, procurement, construction, and operation phases. Photovoltaic panels and rainwater harvesting systems are integrated into large roof areas to enhance sustainability.
Overhanging eaves provide shelter for indoor and outdoor public terraces, while seawater heat exchangers are used for cooling in the central plant. An intelligent building management system will optimize sun shading, lighting, and ventilation. The use of local and recyclable materials, including wood cladding sourced from certified sustainable forests, aligns with the architect’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
Recently, Zaha Hadid Architects completed the Hollywood-style “City of Dreams” resort in Macau and was commissioned to design the high-tech Daxia Tower in the Xi’an Technological Development Zone, one of China’s largest inland cities. Earlier this year, their business sports center design received approval in Vilnius, Lithuania. Meanwhile, the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, another ZHA project, is currently under construction and is set to open at the 2023 World Science Fiction Congress — the largest event of its kind worldwide.
Project Information
Owner: People’s Government of Sanya City
Architectural Design: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
ZHA Designer: Patrik Schumacher
ZHA Competition Project Managers: Nils Fischer, Lei Zheng, Jakub Klaska
ZHA Competition Project Architects: Chun Yen Chen, Matthew Gabe
ZHA Competition Team: Shajay Bhooshan, Joshua Anderson, Vishu Bhooshan, Daniel Boran, Chun-Yen Chen, Hung-Da Chien, Nils Fischer, Matthew Gabe, Charles Harris, Jinqi Huang, Yen-Fen Huang, Ivan Hewitt, Jakub Klaska, Hannah Kopeliovitch Simmons, Henry Louth, Sonia Magdziarz, Patrik Schumacher, Svenja Siever, Tul Srisompun, Yaobin Wang, Yutong Xia, Simon Yu, Lei Zheng, Han Hsun Hsieh
Executive Architect, Local Architect, Structural Engineer, Quality Monitoring, M&E Engineer, MEP, Fire Organization Engineer: Arcplus Institute of Shanghai Architectural Design & Research
Transportation Consultant: Parking Management
Landscape Consultant: ZHA
Lighting Design: ZHA
Acoustic Consultant: Cundall Theatre
Management Consultant: Cundall Theatre Equipment
Site Surveyor: Arcplus Institute of Shanghai Architectural Design & Research
Logo Design: SHIYU Urban Signage Planning and Design
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