The London-headquartered practice was appointed last month to deliver a vision for the mixed-use Cao’e River Culture and Art Centre, located on the banks of the Cao’e River.

ZHA’s design is understood to have been preferred ahead of competition from China-based architects 9grid, among other unnamed contenders.

The winning design includes spaces for opera, dance, a symphony orchestra, musical theatre and drama productions, with a scheme centred around a 1,400-seat Grand Theatre.

Other dedicated spaces include a 500-seat black-box multifunctional hall, a 2,900m² arts and education centre, a 3,000m² conference centre, a 7,500m² heritage museum and a 10,000m² digital art gallery.

Outdoor spaces include terraced landscapes, courtyards, natural parklands and gardens which can host performances while connecting the centre with Shaoxing and giving visitors access to the waterfront.

ZHA says the shape and form of the building is both ‘new’ and ‘recognisable’ and ‘honours the rich tradition and craftsmanship of glazed tiles upon pitched roofs within the region’s vernacular architecture’.

Regarding its sustainability, the practice says some materials will be locally sourced while the curving roof is designed to provide shading from solar glare and photovoltaic panels will contribute towards the centre’s energy demand.

ZHA’s ongoing China work includes a 210m-tall office tower in Xi’an, the capital of China’s central Shaanxi Province, a new 409,000m² harbourside cultural district in the Chinese beach resort of Sanya and and the proposed Hangzhou International Sports Centre.

There is no timeline for completion on the Cao’e River Culture and Art Centre.

The practice has recently been in the news over its legal bid to stop paying for the use of the name of the late Zaha Hadid – an obligation that has cost the practice £21.4 million since her death.