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New art center opens in ancient Liangzhu
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DESIGNED by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the Liangzhu Culture Center opened Sunday in Liangzhu, an area on the northern outskirts of Hangzhou. The center contains a gallery, a library and a theater. What’s more, its unique design, by one of the world’s most accomplished architects, also makes the center worth a visit.
Ando is a past winner of the Pritzker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the architecture world. Critics have called him “a poet of concrete” thanks to his imposing, yet approachable designs.
His monumental new center covers about 100,000 square meters, divided over two wings. Approaching the structure, visitors are greeted by lush vegetation, an expansive concrete brick staircase, and enormous French windows stretching over 10 meters in height. Inside, in typical Japanese style, these windows and other features allow in an abundance of natural lighting. Ample use of wood also gives the space a clean and airy atmosphere.
The center’s gallery is currently hosting an exhibition of works from French artists, as well as a collection of photos of endangered animals. In the center’s massive library, visitors can find gargantuan wooden shelves packed with over 13,000 volumes. These were bought by residents of the nearby Liangzhu Village.
From within, visitors to the building can look out onto meadows, trees and water features. These lovely natural resources, according to director Shen Yihan, constitute the center’s “most precious collection.”
Ando himself also acknowledged the importance of the building’s surrounding environment.
“A community embraced by so much green is rare, and it was my responsibility not to fail nature,” explained the architect.
The culture center project was funded by Vanke Real Estate, which also developed the nearby residential village.
Located in Hangzhou’s Yuhang District, about 20 kilometers from the city center, Liangzhu Village boasts its own attractions. These include cafes, restaurants as well as a museum, church and children’s park.
The church is also designed by a Japanese architect. The main area for worshippers includes a Chinese tiled ceiling as well as rectangular French windows. Pervading the entire space is a rich smell of wood as the building itself, as well as its furnishings, were all made from pinewood imported from Japan.
Visitors should not miss Liangzhu Museum, another architectural gem by British architect David Chipperfield. Its minimalist structure stands in bold contrast to the museum’s collection of elaborate wares from the ancient Liangzhu people.
Humans have been living in the vicinity of modern-day Liangzhu for more than 5,000 years, experts believe. And discoveries made in Liangzhu show a rich ancient culture thriving along the banks of the Yangtze River Delta region. This civilization produced intricate works of jade, silk, ivory and lacquer, as evidenced by artifacts extracted from local burial sites.
The village has many of its own modern charms, including a delightful food street packed with restaurants and eateries offering a range of dining choices.
For many, the street’s real highlight is the Villager Cafeteria, a tidy eatery decked out in vintage 1980s style, complete with enamel cups and bamboo bowls.
The breakfast menu features typical fare like fried bread sticks, pancakes and soy milk for prices as low as 2 yuan (32 US cents). During lunch and dinner, prices remain reasonable, with most meals costing around 15 yuan.
Despite its aged appearance, the cafeteria — as well as most other restaurants in the area — has one modern touch: It only accepts payment via Villager Card. Visitors can secure such cards at the local information desk.
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