Project Location
Located on the outskirts of Nanjing, the Pukou district is a newly developed area envisioned as a modernist green utopia. The district follows a modernist urban plan, featuring numerous large, enclosed residential communities. Although the infrastructure and road systems are fully developed, similar to many newly planned urban areas, Pukou lacks vibrant and diverse public spaces. The Pukou Cultural Center, designed by BAU Architecture and Urban Design Firm, aims to maximize public space and foster a lively urban atmosphere, inviting community engagement and enriching public life.
The Cultural Center is strategically positioned at the crossroads of two main roads, bordered at the rear by a canal that defines the site’s boundary. This canal edge has been thoughtfully transformed into a green network of public open spaces, enhancing community connectivity and natural integration.
Architectural Typology
The building’s design is based on a freely interpreted enclosed courtyard typology. Two sides of the structure form continuous street walls along the adjacent roads, while the other two sides open onto the site. The internal courtyard is shielded behind the main building’s façade, providing a tranquil space away from street noise. This courtyard connects seamlessly to a larger network of public open areas. Two open entrances are positioned centrally along the street-facing façades, allowing public access through the building to the courtyard and beyond.
The project’s urban design features a tripartite layering: a flexible and stable ground-level base, a four-story central volume, and a slightly irregular top floor. This configuration defines the building’s form. Inside, the courtyard incorporates a sloping structure that creates a dynamic, undulating landscape while preserving ample green space.
Seamless Integration
The project integrates diverse functions into a cohesive whole. Active retail shops and service facilities line the street-level façade, while the middle floors house a 104-room hotel and office spaces. The top floor accommodates a 2,500-square-meter nursery. At the heart of the complex, the courtyard features a community center with an auditorium and a swimming pool.
Far beyond a traditional government service center, the Pukou Cultural Center is designed as a vibrant destination that nurtures community pride and engagement.
Innovative Architecture
The building façade features a series of thin, cantilevered concrete plates creating shaded platforms. Metal sunshades with folded perforations are strategically installed to respond to the building’s different orientations. These sunshades effectively block direct sunlight, reducing heat gain and glare while maximizing natural light penetration.
This design ensures excellent ventilation and abundant daylight, lowering energy consumption and providing a comfortable environment for both employees and visitors.
Balancing Urban Texture and Comfort
While urban design often aims to maintain a strong city fabric even in the presence of subpar buildings, this project strives for a perfect balance. It not only contributes positively to the urban context but also creates highly comfortable architectural spaces enriched with landscaped greenery.
△ General layout plan
△ South and East Elevations
△ North and West Elevations
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Status: Completed in 2019
Location: Pukou District, Nanjing, China
Duration: 2016–2019
Client: Nanjing Jiangbei New City Investment and Development Co., Ltd.
Building Area: 47,890 square meters
Construction Investment: RMB 210 million
Type: Community Service Center, Office Building, Hotel, Retail, Leisure, Public Landscape
Facilities include a 400-seat auditorium, municipal offices, a 70-room hotel, community service center, early education institution, gym, swimming pool, underground parking, retail shops, and public sports and leisure landscapes.
BAU Project Team
Architecture Team: Huang Hua, Gao Weiguo, Billy Voon, Gu Jiani, Zhang Dejun, Steve Whitford, James Brearley
Landscape Team: Wang Chenlei, Xiong Juan, Chen Yanling, Wang Can, Zhu Jialiang
Construction Unit: Nanjing Jiangbei New City Investment and Development Co., Ltd.
Collaborative Design Institute: Nanjing Jincheng Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Photography by Shuhe
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