The Music on the River complex, shaped like a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, officially opens in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A 70-meter-high 16-story complex shaped like a traditional Chinese stringed instrument officially opened on Dec 20 in Hengqin, Guangdong province, within the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone.
The structure, a new landmark for the region, was designed by Chinese Canadian architect Peter Guo-hua Fu, general manager of KFS Architects Inc Canada, the Shanghai-based company that was commissioned by the Hengqin government in 2010 to design the building next to the Tianmu River.
The company has been involved in the development of 5 million square meters of residential and commercial real estate in Shanghai but Fu said he relished the challenge of creating a landmark in Hengqin.
"Creating an iconic city landmark is every architect's dream and challenge," Fu said of the gigantic project named The Music on the River that has 96,000 square meters of aboveground space and 146,000 square meters of underground facilities.
"It must gain social acceptance and embody the city's culture and spirit, while possessing a distinctive and unforgettable uniqueness," Fu added.
Chinese Canadian architect Peter Guo-hua Fu and the Music on the River complex he designed. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
After more than a decade of construction and an investment of nearly 5 billion yuan ($684 million), the building has taken its place within Hengqin Island. Part of Zhuhai, the island is separated from Macao by a strip of water and shares a geographical and cultural bond with its neighbor, having been jointly administered by Macao and Guangdong province since 2021.
The complex houses a conference center, exhibition spaces, science and innovation centers, offices, hotels, and commercial facilities.
Previous proposals for the site included sail-shaped structures, circular towers, and oval designs but all had been rejected for lacking a unique local identity. Fu was determined to construct something that would be unique to the city.
He found inspiration in the city's name, which literally translates to horizontal string instrument and his design conceptualized the building as a horizontal traditional Chinese stringed instrument reflected in the river's surface, creating an image where half the instrument appears real and half appears as a reflection in the Tianmu River.
"This building could only belong to Hengqin, it could not be built in other places like Beijing or Shanghai," explained Fu, who was awarded Shanghai's prestigious Magnolia Silver Award for his contribution to that city as an expatriate.
The structure's design, wider at the base and narrower at the top, adheres to mechanical principles while optimizing construction costs and aesthetic appeal.
"It embodies Hengqin's urban spirit, aligning with principles of mechanics, cost-effectiveness, and local aesthetics," Fu said.
The Music on the River complex, shaped like a traditional Chinese stringed instrument, officially opens in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The initial blueprint featured a multifunctional complex combined with a yacht center. Due to the building's special location, it embraces lots of curves that resembles waves, a feature that can be seen in architecture in Macao.
And the construction progress was by no means easy. It began in 2017 with complex foundation work that included the temporary damming of the Tianmu River and the project was temporarily halted in 2020 due to foundation issues.
In early 2021, the building's purpose was modified to become an urban technology museum complex before it was finally readjusted to its current function as an innovation hub.
"Every great architectural project encounters countless challenges," Fu said, drawing parallels with the Sydney Opera House and the Louvre's renovation.
The building's role continually evolved, from the initial urban exhibition center to the technology museum complex, and on to the innovation hub that embodies the region's advancement – always progressing in tandem with the times, Fu said.
