MAD Architects has unveiled the design for a waterfront arts centre featuring a museum, theatre and sports centre in Foshan City, Guangdong, China.

Spanning 120,000sq m, the mixed use Nanhai Art Center has been designed to resemble a continuous wave, with three separate buildings set under canopies inspired by the traditional architecture of Lingnan, the larger area in which Guangdong is located.

Led by MAD Architects founder Ma Yansong, Nanhai Art Center will be a “new public gateway” to the waterfront and a creative, cultural hub for the citizens of Guangzhou and Foshan.

The development is located in Nanhai Cultural District, the heart of the Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area, an urban site that bridges the cities of Guangzhou and Foshan.

“The traditional culture of Nanhai is in the drum beat and boat drift during the dragon festival boat race and in the kung-fu, in the lion dance,” said Ma Yansong. “Watching them, you can feel the dynamic, vibrant and innovative spirit from ancient times. We want to bring that spirit back to modern living here.”

The design is arranged around a central axis, with the 89,269sq m museum and grand theatre on one side, and the 32,000sq ft sports centre set slightly apart on the other. The Grand Theatre will include a 1,500-seat amphitheatre and a 600-seat multi-purpose hall, suitable for varied performances and conferences. Further details of the museum haven’t yet been released.

“The local culture of southern Guangdong is about the gathering of people,” said Ma Yansong, adding that the creation of new contemporary cultural facilities is important to support this traditional culture.

“The design of the Nanhai Art Center wants to provide the maximum grey spaces for such activities,” said Yansong.

Sustainable features include solar panels, a rainwater collection system and vertical greening systems. The roof will be made from translucent ETFE, which will allow natural light to enter the complex, reducing energy consumption on lighting and heating.

The site will also feature viewing platforms overlooking the lake.