▲ View of the park and Fujiang River to the southeast from the production area
Location and Base
Tuopai Town, situated approximately 200 kilometers from both Chengdu and Chongqing, is a small industrial town in Sichuan and serves as the brewing hub for the time-honored Shede Liquor distillery. Thanks to its tranquil setting, Tuopai Town has preserved the ambiance of China’s 1960s and 1970s industrial and rural settlements. The cultural center is positioned directly in front of the Shede production area, overlooking the Fujiang River and a park across the street.
▲ Production area located on the northwest side of Shede Cultural Center
Function
The cultural center combines multiple roles: it houses a wine (BIM work) cultural museum, a hotel, a banquet hall, and a research and development center. This multi-functional space serves as the welcoming gateway for visitors embarking on their journey to the distillery.
▲ Main facade
▲ East side of the cultural center
▲ Southeast side facade
▲ Lobby facade
▲ Landscape steps and water features behind the lobby
Design Strategy
Our research revealed that Tuopai Town’s appeal to tourists extends beyond its renowned liquor; it lies equally in its pristine natural scenery and serene regional character. Our design aims to preserve these qualities, attracting visitors seeking a peaceful retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle.
▲ Exhibition hall facade
▲ Exhibition hall facade details
▲ Exhibition hall interior
▲ Banquet hall facade
▲ Office building facade
▲ South-side gable of the office building
▲ Space between the Experience Center and the supporting office building
▲ View of the third-floor guest rooms through the bamboo forest
▲ Courtyard in the top-floor guest room area
▲ Three levels overlooking the inner courtyard
▲ Night view of the outer corridor on the third floor guest room area
▲ Leisure space in the top-floor guest room area
The cultural center complex forms a bridge between industrial park environments and natural landscapes. Architecturally, it is composed of a series of pavilions arranged in a linear fashion around an inner courtyard. The design language draws from modest, localized elements such as deep eaves and wooden walls.
▲ View of Shede Cultural Center from the landscape lawn
▲ South facade overlooking the landscape pool
▲ Double-layered eaves
▲ Detail of grille window beneath deep eaves
▲ Board wall facade
▲ Panel wall facade details
Building Section
The museum’s cross-section features a beamless concrete floor slab that fans out from the center towards both sides, resembling an open umbrella. This “umbrella” thickens gradually from the eaves to the center, where it conceals HVAC piping within its thickest section.
▲ Exposed sloping plain concrete roof
▲ Umbrella structural system
Design Drawings:
▲ General layout plan
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ Third floor plan
▲ Elevation and section views
Project Information:
Architectural Firm: Very Architectural
Location: Tuopai Town, Sichuan Province, China
Category: Cultural Center
Lead Designers: Zhang Yonghe, Lu Lijia
Project Team: Liang Xiaoning, Huang Shuyi, Zhang Bowen, Liu Chao
Building Area: 22,592 m²
Year: 2019
Photographer: Existence of Architecture
Interior Design: Simon Lee, Zeng Xiangyan, Zhang Min, Li Shuai
Collaborative Design: China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute
Client: Tuopai Shede Liquor Industry Co., Ltd
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