Studio City Phase 2 by Zaha Hadid Architects
Location: Macao, China
Status: Ongoing

Located in the Cotai district of Macau adjacent to the Lotus Bridge crossing with mainland China, the Hollywood- inspired Studio City resort has welcomed guests and visitors to the city since 2015. Appointed in 2017 to expand the resort, Zaha Hadid Architects designed Studio City Phase 2 with new leisure, entertainment, and hospitality facilities including one of Asia’s largest indoor & outdoor water parks and a six-screen Cineplex together with extensive conference and exhibition spaces.

Comprising two hotel towers with 900 rooms and suites, 21,000 m2 of shopping and dining, as well as 2,300 m2 of gaming space, the 250,000 m2 Studio City Phase 2 design is informed by the existing resort’s cinematic references with a contemporary reinterpretation of the rich detailing, bold geometries, and craftsmanship of the Art Deco period. Composed of three different gradations of glass with external fins that delineate the verticality of the towers, the insulated glazing units, and shading fins will reduce solar heat gain and glare while maintaining thermal comfort for hotel guests. The high-performance building envelope together with highly efficient services and systems will reduce energy demand. All timber and timber-based products specified within the design have been harvested, traded, and sourced in accordance with Forestry Stewardship Council certification.

Environmental site assessments determined the composition of Studio City Phase 2’ s development away from the 15-hectare protected wetland of the adjacent Macau Cotai Ecological Zone. The orientation and configuration of the elliptical towers have been calculated to facilitate natural ventilation within and around the resort. The project’s ecologist developed preservation measures for the site’s existing flora together with compensatory planting of species compatible with the landscape and habitat. Scheduled to complete in December 2022, the Studio City Phase 2 development was named the winner of the ‘Regional Award Asia’ at the BREEAM Awards 2021.

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