PLP Architecture won the competition for the masterplanning design of the Yuyao Internation City of Culture and Arts.  The birthplace of Hemudu protoculture, and hosting important archaeological sites dating back to the Yue Kin Celadon culture and Yao River ancient culture – Yuyao is one of the most historically significant cities in China.

The project accommodates 25 museums and performing arts centres, research and education facilities, an artist village, commercial facilities, cultural retail, hotels and a residential zone.

The project is organized to maximise the encounter between the visitor and production and reception of art within an active pedestrian connective realm. Expressed as two intersecting axes, this exclusively pedestrian public realm is elevated from the street level thereby eliminating traffic and the back of house infrastructure of the city from the experience of the cultural facilities and landscape areas adjoining it. The axes connect different character zones each providing a different activity and intensity to this communal space.

An important consideration was given to the water’s edge, expanding it and weaving it through project. In a similar way to the two pedestrian axes, it links together different buildings and districts delineating a landscape area that itself is a platform for the dissemination of public cultural and arts-based events.