Yidan Centre Shenzhen, China
© Zaha Hadid Architects | Photo by Atchain
Curated by Archirev Editorial | Feature Story | Published Nov 5th 2025
Source: Zaha Hadid Architects
Project typology: Institutional
Project name: Yidan Centre
Location: Qianhai, Shenzhen, China
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design Lead: Patrik Schumacher
Project Directors: Manuela Gatto
Executive Architect: Guangdong Architectural
Status: Topped Out (2025)
Primary Systems: Hybrid ventilation, VAV, PV integration village & training fields
Size: 165,815 m²
Certification: LEED Gold, China 3-Star
Photography / Renders: © Zaha Hadid Architects / Atchain
Shenzhen’s Qianhai district has a new landmark: the Yidan Center, the international headquarters of the Chen Yidan Foundation and the Yidan Prize. Rising gracefully above the city, the building appears to flow like a river of terraces and balconies, with a central “canyon” that funnels light, air, and human interaction through its core.
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), the Center draws inspiration from the mountains and valleys surrounding Shenzhen, translating natural geological forms into an architectural language of fluidity and connectivity. It is a place where architecture, learning, and collaboration converge, and where every detail tells a story of innovation.
© Zaha Hadid Architects / Photo by Atchain
Two Buildings in One: Linking Form and Function
The Yidan Center is organized into two distinct but interconnected volumes: one for research and administrative offices, and the other for public and cultural programs, including the YiPai Learning Community. These are joined by the central canyon, which culminates at the top to form a dramatic void, bringing light deep into the heart of the building.
This concept echoes ZHA’s approach at Leeza Soho in Beijing, where two twisting tower-like volumes are unified by a central atrium. In the Yidan Center, the dual volumes not only provide functional separation but also create a visual and social spine, emphasizing openness, connectivity, and engagement across all levels.
© Zaha Hadid Architects / Photo by Atchain
A Hub for Lifelong Learning
The Yidan Center is more than a building; it is a living ecosystem for education. It houses:
- Research and innovation platforms that foster cutting-edge educational development
- Exhibition and event spaces showcasing knowledge and cultural programs
- YiPai Learning Community, a lower-level public hub offering inclusive, lifelong learning experiences for people of all ages
Visitors enter through verdant gardens that guide them to the central canyon. Sunlight pours from a massive oculus skylight, illuminating terraces, balconies, and bridges that connect spaces for research, exhibitions, and public learning. Every corner invites engagement, whether for quiet reflection or collaborative dialogue.
© Zaha Hadid Architects / Photo by Atchain
Sustainability and Design Intelligence
While visually captivating, the Yidan Center is deeply rooted in sustainable design:
- Dynamic Façade: Rippling, stratified panels with external louvres provide solar shading while allowing natural light to enter and offering panoramic views of Qianhai Bay.
- Hybrid Ventilation & VAV System: Ensures comfort in Shenzhen’s humid subtropical climate while reducing energy use.
- Renewable Energy & Water Management: Photovoltaic panels generate on-site power, and rainwater harvesting reduces demand on municipal systems.
- Thermal Performance & Transparency: Double-glazed insulated units, combined with natural ventilation, maintain interior comfort and visibility.
The design subtly integrates technical performance with human experience, ensuring that sustainability enhances visitor comfort and engagement rather than overshadowing it.
© Zaha Hadid Architects / Photo by Atchain
Experiential Architecture
Terraces, balconies, and bridges encourage movement, social interaction, and serendipitous encounters. The central canyon blurs the boundary between interior and exterior. At the same time, gardens and circulation paths guide visitors through the space, revealing framed views of the architecture above and the city beyond.
The Center is conceived as a physical manifestation of Shenzhen’s identity as a global hub of innovation and discovery, a place where pioneering scientists, educators, and innovators from around the world can converge.
© Zaha Hadid Architects / Photo by Atchain
Looking Ahead
As the Yidan Center reaches completion, it promises to be more than a headquarters or research hub. It is a place where education, architecture, and sustainability intersect, shaping a global community dedicated to lifelong learning. Through its terraces, gardens, and canyon-like heart, the Foundation embodies its vision: that knowledge is open, inclusive, and ever-evolving, and that the spaces we inhabit can inspire innovation and connection.
© Zaha Hadid Architects
Project Gallery
Photography by Atchain
The photographer Atchain owns the copyright of these photographs.
Additionally, a credit must be printed with any publication, exhibition, or broadcast to Zaha Hadid Architects.
Photography by Xue Liang
The photographer Xue Liang owns the copyright of these photographs.
Additionally, a credit must be printed with any publication, exhibition, or broadcast to Zaha Hadid Architects.
Photography by Zaha Hadid Architects
Photography by Kris Provoost
Project Credits
Architect & Lead Designer: Zaha Hadid Architects (London)
Principal / Design Director: Patrik Schumacher
Project Director: Manuela Gatto
Project Associate Director: Shao-wei Huang
Project Associates: Houzhe Xu, Massimo Napoleoni
Local Executive Architect: Shenzhen General Institute of Architectural Design and Research
Structural & MEP Engineering: Meinhardt
Façade Design Consultant: China Construction & Architecture Technology
Acoustics & Venue Consultant: Arup International Consultants (Shanghai)
Green Building / Sustainability Consultant: Shenzhen Institute of Building Research
Façade Maintenance Consultant: Ling Bang Building Engineering Technology Consulting
Project Management: Shanghai K&Z Construction Project Management
Landscape Design: DDON Planning & Design
Interior & Workplace Design:
Zaha Hadid Architects — Interiors & Workplace Planning
Kar Hwa Ho, Bidisha Sinha, Afsoon Eshaghi, Anna Adebayo, Aysu Aysoy,
Chhavi Mehta, Sonia Renehan
Ulrich Blum, Lorena Espaillat Bencosme, Philipp Siedler