BIM Forest Bagui is situated in southern Hunan, along Jiang Zuoqingluo Belt, where the mountains resemble green jade baskets. Many households lose their green feathers, while families cultivate their own sweet yellow crops. This scene surpasses even the allure of immortality; Fei Luan is no ordinary princess.
— Han Yu
The poem “Sending Off Yan Dafu from Guizhou to Use Southern Characters” is a five-character quatrain by Han Yu, a Tang Dynasty writer, written as he bid farewell to his friend Yan Mo. The opening couplet locates Yan Mo’s departure in Guilin, described as part of “southern Hunan.” With a broad stroke, the couplet vividly portrays the stunning mountains and waters of Guilin. The following lines highlight the region’s charming customs and people, while the concluding couplet expresses that serving in Guilin is far more rewarding than seeking immortality, education, or promotion—revealing the poet’s admiration and envy.
As the beauty of China’s landscapes shines globally, it has become a symbol of artistic ideals in world aesthetics. For millennia, Guilin’s mountains and waters have been celebrated as some of the finest on earth, inspiring countless scholars and artists to immerse themselves in its imagery.
The mountains reflect upon the water, and without this harmonious interaction, one cannot truly experience the spirit of the place. Landscape evokes deep emotions and connection; Eastern philosophy often bases its understanding of the world and self on this unique relationship between humans and nature. You have me, and I have you. Only natural landscapes can bring inner peace and awaken a profound longing for return, simplicity, and essence.
Architects strive to embody the spirit of mountains and waters within their designs. In Eastern philosophy, people wish to express their emotions and pursue spiritual fulfillment through nature. Architecture serves as a bridge between urban life and the natural world, offering residents the opportunity to enjoy both city development and the tranquility of natural surroundings, thereby enhancing urban livability.
The beauty of architecture emerges from the interplay of mountains and waters. The Wanda Metropolis · Binjiang Sales Center is a landscape living masterpiece, blending traditional landscape philosophy, Eastern aesthetics, and contemporary minimalist design. Set against the backdrop of Guilin, known as China’s “landscape city,” the design captures the essence of the region.
Distant mountains, flowing waters, white walls, layered shadows, blooming flowers, and lush greenery create a seamless fusion of architecture and nature. The atmosphere evokes the gentle charm of southern water towns alongside a pure, simple homeland close to the mountains and rivers.
The Metropolitan Riverside Sales Center explores the essence of Guilin’s landscape through innovative technologies, materials, and design concepts. It captures the region’s majestic scenery and pure cultural heritage, interpreting them with contemporary art techniques and Eastern aesthetic imagery. Through symbolic design, it creates a distinctive local style that resonates with the city’s character, fostering a harmonious emotional connection between nature and people.
Due to land constraints, the sales center is positioned within an urban green space outside the immediate project area. Wanfu Road, to the south, is a major urban artery in Lingui District. To the west lies Renmin Road, which integrates the new Two Rivers and Four Lakes water system developed by Lingui New Area. Across the water is the newly constructed Civic Square. This exceptional blend of cultural and natural surroundings provides a rich context. The design aims to harmonize the building’s functional requirements with the external environment through a distinctive spatial language, creating a landmark that balances social engagement with natural beauty, embodying cohesion and iconic presence.
The project employs landscape progression and layered scenery techniques to redefine the space, translating the natural mountains’ essence into the built environment. Rather than focusing on mere surface appearance, the design conveys deeper meaning, crafting a rich spatial experience within limited land. This spatial awareness transforms into a temporal journey, where visitors stroll through scenic views as if touring the mountains themselves, fostering a profound connection between people and nature.
Form Generation Diagram
Seeking the city’s architectural vocabulary, the building’s form reflects mountain peaks through abstract interpretation, engaging in dialogue with the urban style. The structure features minimalist geometric compositions, its shape resembling a folded bird in geometric form. White egrets dot the sky, and the mountains are lush and green, embodying the serene scene of “leisurely birds in the sky and green reeds by the water.”
Architectural Formal Language
Inspired by the spirit of place, the building’s surfaces feature simple, unpretentious shapes created through form variations. The rooflines integrate seamlessly with the gray spaces formed by extended eaves and the surrounding expansive water landscape. Modern techniques evoke viewers’ impressions of Guilin’s scenery, achieving a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
From afar, the mountains burst with color; up close, the waters lie quiet. Today, nature represents the ideal living environment. Mountains and waters symbolize the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. Architecture within this natural setting expresses human emotions toward the environment.
▲ General layout plan
▲ First floor plan
Project Information:
Project Name: Metropolitan Riverside Sales Center
Location: Lingui District, Guilin City
Floor Area: 4,328 square meters
Building Area: 909 square meters
Scope of Service: Architectural Scheme Design
Design Team: Benchmark Fangzhong Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Design Year: 2018
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