Da Chang Muslim Cultural Center
Architectural Design: Architectural Design & Research Institute of Scut
Interior design: Architectural Design & Research Institute of Scut, City group
Principal Architect: He Jingtang
Design Team: Guo Weihong, Pan Yudan, Zheng Changbo, Li Kaixin, Chen Zong, Wang Renyu, Huang Guannan
Investor: China Fortune Land Development Co., Ltd (CFLD)
Location: Dachang County, Hebei Province, China
Area: 35,000 sqm
Completion Time: 2015
Photographer: Yao Li

Editor's note:
Cultural architectures have always been academician He Jingtang’s "specialty".
Project Dachang National Palace is no doubt his another masterpiece. Located in Da-chang Hui Autonomous County, Langfang, Hebei province, the project is supposed by the local government to be an iconic design, introducing Dachang’s particular culture and enhancing the soft power of the city. The national palace is thus endowed with multiple functions, serving not only as the recreation center of the city, but the essential cultural site for the introduction of local religion and history as well. It has undoubtedly brought lots of challenges to the designer, because of the special ethnic composition, historical context, religious belief, complex functional requirements of the site and the setting of a cultural landmark.
In the design of the project, Academician He Jingtang has also carried out his concept of “2 Views” and “3 Characters”, with the starting point of holistic view and sustainable development concept, fully considering regionalism, cultural, and epochal character of the architecture, there-fore presents us an excellent design.

Design Concept:
This is a poetic sanctuary that shows people both the brilliant Islamic culture and our vision for a better life. This is also a homelike cultural center that provides a spiritual home for local residents especially Muslims.
Dachang County is a Muslim enclave near Beijing. To revive the Islamic culture and improve the quality of culture life, the local government developed Da Chang Muslim Cultural Center, a cul-tural complex integrating the functions of theatre, exhibition, convention and community center.
Based on traditional mosque, the building subtly interprets the spatial structure of mosque with new materials and technologies. The surrounding arches shrink into elegant curves from the bot-tom up, while the cambering petal-shaped arches of the reflection in the water look even more vivid and graceful. The dome sees the translation and abstraction of Islamic symbols rather than simple mimicking. We constitute the dome with petaloid shells and creatively transform the inte-rior space into a semi-exterior roof garden flooded with sunshine, fresh air and vegetation.

Chinese designs towards the world
In recent years, Academician He Jingtang and his team have also begun stepping onto the interna-tional stage, attracting with their splendid designs more and more attention of internationally re-nowned architectural media, universities, and critics, and have won their great praise. On the 10th of this month, Academician He Jingtang will be invited to the Venice Architecture University to launch an exhibition with the theme of PLACE, CULTURE, TIME——He Jingtang: Design for Drastically Changing China Opening Activities ,and he will also chair the opening forum.

" PLACE, CULTURE, TIME"
He Jingtang: Design for Drastically Changing China
Opening Activities

Time: 10th October, 2016 / p.m.14:00~19:30
Place: First floor, Ca’Tron, Iuav University

Organization:
14:00~ 14:15 Wel-come words by Prof. Angela Vettese, Introduction by Curator Prof. Marino Folin
14:15~ 15:30 Lecture by Prof. He Jingtang, title: “PLACE, CULTURE, TIME—Design for Drastically Changing China ”
15:30～15:45　Coffee and tea break
15:50～18:00　Round table face talk: “Design in a Changing World”
Moderators: Prof. Marino Folin and Prof. Paolo Ceccarelli
Invited scholars:
- Prof. Jianfei Zhu | Melbourne School of Design， Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning，University of Melbourne
- Prof. Stanislaus Fung | School of Architecture，Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Prof. arch. Aldo Aymonino | IUAV University
- Prof. arch. Roberta Albiero | IUAV University
- Prof. Angela Vettese | IUAV University
18:00~19:30 Opening ceremony