The Neri & Hu-designed Aranya Art Center (AAC) has finally opened to the public in Qinhuangdao, China.
Situated opposite the Bohai Sea in an affluent resort community known as the "Gold Coast", the cultural hub comprises a café, an amphitheatre, a rooftop viewing area, and multiple galleries.
The building, which is composed almost entirely of concrete, also features a neo-Brutalist, pixellated façade.
According to Neri & Hu, the appearance of the structure is meant to evoke boulders that withstand the shifting sands and tides.
"It's a hybrid typology which combined design, art, and performance," explained the architects.
"The project pushes the boundaries of how architectural space deals with sensorial experiences in unexpected ways."
Set to serve as a community space and exhibition centre, AAC is one of several major art venues to rise on the Bohai Coast.
Recent projects in the area include OPEN Architecture's cavernous UCCA Dune Art Museum and Vector Architects' Lonely Library.
