Anji Cultural and Arts Centre: Fair-Faced UHPC Facades

Designed by MAD Architects and completed in 2025, the Anji Cultural and Arts Centre covers approximately 118,000m² and includes a grand theatre, conference facilities and cultural exhibition spaces. 

Inspired by the local landscape of bamboo and tea plantations, the design blends with its natural surroundings. The building combines honeycomb aluminium roof panels, a self-supporting folded glass curtain wall reaching 17 metres in height, and fair-faced UHPC precast panels across the first to third floors.

The project also incorporates sponge city principles, using green roofs, permeable paving, sunken green spaces and rainwater harvesting to manage stormwater runoff.

The UHPC precast panels cover approximately 12,000m² of façade area. Generally, 4-6 m high and 1.8 m wide, they include more than a thousand elements in different sizes and configurations, with curved panels accounting for around 40%.

A fair-faced concrete finish was specified from the outset. Treated timber moulds were used to achieve the required fine, natural surface texture.

Liu Jiaren, founder of Possible & Concrete explained:“Curved and irregularly shaped panels are particularly challenging to produce. Double-layer moulds require high precision in production, as well as careful control of compaction and sealing during casting. The finish on the back of each panel also needs to be controlled to ensure consistent quality.”

Possible & Concrete worked with MAD Architects to refine the colour, texture and surface finish through repeated sample reviews. Tongji Architectural Design Group handled the detailed façade design, including connections and construction drawings. At the request of MAD, open joints were incorporated between the panels, creating consistent, fine gaps that meet installation requirements while maintaining a clean, continuous façade.

The precast UHPC system also helps improve construction efficiency and shorten the construction period.

Stainless steel fibres were incorporated into the UHPC to improve the stiffness and crack resistance of the large panels, reducing the risk of deformation during transportation, lifting and installation.

“UHPC design needs to consider more than appearance. Material properties, including mouldability, mechanical performance and service life, are equally important,” said Liu. “For large façade panels, stainless steel fibre reinforcement helps improve stiffness and crack resistance, reducing the risk of cracking during installation and subsequent use.”

He added:“The façade is exposed to sunlight, rain and temperature fluctuations throughout its service life. Temperature-induced deformation can generate stresses that lead to cracking in large panels. Stainless steel fibres help mitigate this risk. The dense microstructure and durability of UHPC also help the panels withstand environmental exposure, supporting a service life comparable to that of the building structure.”

On the choice of white cement and colour control, Liu explained:" Aalborg White P.W. 52.5 was used in the UHPC mix, with grey or black iron oxide pigments added to achieve the required colour. The consistent hydration characteristics of Aalborg White cement helped maintain colour consistency across the grey panels."

Liu noted that fibre-reinforced UHPC offers greater design flexibility for complex shapes and large precast façade elements. Careful material selection and component design are essential to achieving the required appearance, construction quality and long-term performance.