Yidan Center, China
Construction of Zaha Hadid Architects' Yidan Center in Shenzhen, China, has reached full height. The center will host facilities for academic research, cultural events, and exhibitions, supporting the foundation's mission to advance global education. Inspired by the surrounding mountainous landscapes, historically crossed by trade and communication routes, the building is conceived as a place of convergence and collaboration. The 165,815-square-meter complex features terraces and balconies overlooking a central outdoor "canyon." A large oculus skylight at the canyon's base fills the interiors below with natural light, creating visual and spatial connections between the public interior spaces and the architecture above.
The building is designed to meet both the three-star standard of China's National Green Building Program and LEED Gold certification. The Yidan Center's façade functions as a dynamic environmental filter. Its external louvres provide effective solar shading while maintaining natural daylight and panoramic views of Qianhai Bay, visually reinforcing the structure's striated, geological aesthetic. To further reduce reliance on municipal energy and water supplies, photovoltaic panels are integrated within the design, and the center's architecture incorporates rainwater collection and storage for reuse.
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