Creating a public exhibition and display space within a diverse and integrated site presents not only a hard-earned opportunity for architects but also a significant challenge. Our goal is to use architecture as a tangible medium that allows people to experience the presence of nature, the flow of historical time, and cultural identity, ultimately creating a harmonious space where people and architecture coexist with nature.
Impressions of Nanjing
Nanjing, historically known as Jinling during the Six Dynasties, is a city steeped in culture and education, located along the riverbanks and revered as a cultural hub. At Yanji, the sunset paints the sky in hues of blue, with the site opening to the sky on three sides and standing alongside the river.
The construction of architecture and future urban development is deeply connected to the site’s environment. This connection involves not only the ecological and human activity aspects but also the cultural and artistic essence inherent to the site.Project Site Selection
The project is situated in Yanziji Hanqiao Park, a place where human history and nature merge seamlessly. It is adjacent to the Yangtze River, Guanyin Scenic Area, and Yanziji Park, with distant mountains and rivers contributing to a unique regional character.
Located at the junction of urban roads, the site offers excellent visibility and acts as a prominent urban landmark. Positioned at the park’s northwest corner, the design respects the park’s integrity, preserving the continuity of urban green space.
Given the site’s historical, cultural, and natural significance, the design seeks to deeply explore local heritage and uncover the cultural and spiritual philosophies embedded in the land.Design Principles
The design follows five core principles: symbolism, landscape integration, interactivity, cultural expression, and futurism.
Symbolism: Inspired by the symbolic meaning of Yanzi Ji — “Yan Qi Jiang Chao” — the design derives an origami-inspired architectural form.
Landscape: The building’s interface with the landscape is intentionally concealed and fully integrated into the urban fabric, minimizing visual disruption and maintaining the continuity of the city’s landscape. The building blends naturally into its surroundings through material choices.
Interactivity: The design reexamines the relationships between architecture and the city, people, and nature, exploring how architecture influences place and human behavior.
Cultural: The project explores the coexistence of architectural culture and construction by deconstructing and reinterpreting traditional sloped roofs and brick walls with modern techniques, allowing local cultural and historical spirit to be integrated in form, facade, and materiality.
Futurism: The vision of the future is rooted in history, adapting tradition to the present to create a reimagined architecture.Solution Generation
1. Site Analysis: The site, located within Hanqiao Park, functions as a planning exhibition hall, interfacing with both the urban environment and the park’s greenery.
2. L-shaped Massing: To address the dual interface with the city and park, the building volumes are arranged in an L-shape, inviting the natural environment to permeate the structure.
3. Form Manipulation: The L-shaped mass inclines and cuts at strategic angles facing Hanqiao Park, the city square, and park entrance to enhance spatial dialogue.
4. Roof Elevation: The roof is sculpted with upward and downward shifts, embodying the symbolism of “Yan Qi Jiang Chao.”
5. Roof Design: After refinement, the roof evokes the image of “swallows spreading their wings.”
6. Architectural Expression: The final form incorporates local cultural elements, such as tiles and bricks, reinterpreted with modern materials.
Architectural Presentation
The building appears to grow organically from the ground, resembling a swift poised to take flight over the river. Each wing beat is powerful yet graceful, akin to a cello’s tender notes that resonate deeply from skin to core, soothing the soul.
The architecture integrates seamlessly with the environment, extending the city’s scenic vistas and dissolving rigid urban forms.
Architecture here is no longer an isolated entity; it is deeply rooted in its place, crafting an elegant urban landscape painting with distant mountains, water, and parkland as its backdrop.
By reinterpreting traditional sloped roofs and folding roof forms using modern techniques, the building embodies the unique humanistic spirit of Nanjing.
The urban public spaces formed by the building’s enclosures serve as vibrant containers for city life, where the culture and artistic spirit of the land come alive through everyday activities.
The building’s highly symbolic and sculptural form creates a strong architectural identity, leaving a lasting psychological impression on visitors.
The semi-enclosed courtyard, with its ambiguous relationship to the park, acts as a mediator between architecture and nature. This spatial ambiguity allows the courtyard to function as a private viewing space while remaining interactive with the park—forming a seamless transition between the built and natural environments.
The flowing corridors and changing scenery guide visitors step by step, weaving a smooth and winding path. This sequence connects history, culture, and nature, creating a dynamic three-dimensional interaction among architecture, interior spaces, and landscape.
The land of Yanziji imbues this architecture with a unique soul; the building is a condensed and interpreted embodiment of the natural culture of this region.
All scenic languages convey emotional meaning, and architecture, as an artificial landscape, acts as a metaphor for those emotions.
Project Information
Project Name: Baoneng Nanjing Yanziji Planning and Exhibition Center
Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu
Type: Exhibition Center
Architectural Design: Shanghai Di’ao Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Official Website: www.sh-do.com
Building Area: 1,986 square meters
Owner: Nanjing Baoneng Urban Development Co., Ltd
Principal Architect: Zheng Zhangyu
Design Team: Di’ao · ZN DESIGN STUDIO – Zheng Zhangyu, Zhang Wanqi, Baoyin Dalai, Xie Mengao, Fu Binyu, Gao Shuangshuang
Quality Control Consultant: Fang Jin
Landscape Design: Shenzhen Hehua International Engineering and Design Co., Ltd
Interior Design: JIAI Interior Design (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Curtain Wall Design: Shenzhen Hehua International Engineering and Design Co., Ltd
Steel Structure Design: Shenzhen Fangjia Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Design Period: February 2020 – July 2020
Construction Period: October 2020
Photography: Ziran Architecture Photography
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up