Guangzhou Builds for 16th Asian Games in 2010

Architects Zaha Hadid Design Guangzhou's Great Public Buildings

Nov 19, 2009 Valery Garrett

Some of the world's best public buildings, all designed by renowned architects, are scheduled to be ready when Guangzhou hosts the 16th Asian Games in November 2010.

Close to the financial district of Tianhe in Guangzhou, Pearl River New City (Zhujiang Xincheng) is rapidly taking shape. The area is already home to two five-star hotels, with a seven-star one in the planning. Some spectacular civic structures are being built here in readiness for the 16th Asian Games in 2010. For when the Guangzhou authorities want the best, they call on the best.

The Guangzhou Opera House

World renowned London-based architect, Zaha Hadid, designed the Guangzhou Opera House. The post-modernist building covers an area of 46,000m² costing more than RMB 1 billion (approx US$146m). Two irregular pebble- shaped structures form the complex, the larger of the two will hold a theatre with 1,800 seats, as well as an art exhibition hall, while the smaller is a 400 seat multi-functional hall.

The Guangzhou Twin Towers.

Also from London are Wilkinson Eyre Architects, designers of theGuangzhou Twin Towers Construction began with the round shaped West Tower, at a cost of RMB 6 billion, with afloor area of 448,000 m². At 432 metres and 103 floors it will be one of China’s tallest buildings. Completion is expected shortly, and it will house high-class offices, a five-star hotel, department stores, apartments, and observation deck. Check-in facilities underneath will aid passengers heading to Baiyun International Airport. The quadrate-shaped East Tower, at 488 metres tall, will be completed in 2010.

The Guangdong Museum

Hong Kong-based Rocco Yim’s company, Rocco Design Architects Ltd designed theGuangdong Museum, coveringan area of 40,000 m² and costing RMB 455 million. The building is a low, rectangular box pierced to allow in natural light. Yim calls it his “treasure box” as it resembles a traditional Chinese lacquered box holding precious objects. The collection of over 130,000 exhibits will be distributed over three halls: history, nature and art.

The Guangzhou Library

The design for the Guangzhou Library is called ‘Beautiful Book’, and is created by the Guangzhou Design Institute and Japanese Nikken Company. It is an investment of RMB 924 million, with the complex providing floor space of 98,000 m² to hold four million volumes.

The TV Tower

When the TV Tower is finished, it will be one of the world’s tallest buildings at 610 metres. Mark Hemel of Information Based Architecture, Arup and the Guangzhou Design Institute designed the twisted tapering structure at a cost of RMB 2.2 billion. Containing a television and radio station, conference and exhibition rooms, restaurants and commercial space, the project is technically challenging. But the resulting design is transparent, curvy and gracious. It also features outdoor gardens and an observation area offering spectacular views of the city.

Renowned Architects’ Designs in Guangzhou

For a city that is over 2220 years old, Guangzhou now has a breathtaking array of buildings ranging from two thousand year old tombs to the very latest structures rivalling those anywhere in the world. The city which has always welcomed visitors for trade, now looks forward to welcoming visitors to the Asian Games in 2010.

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