△ Shell-shaped shading structure
△ Daytime view of the East Coast exit
Penda China was commissioned to design the light transition features for the Haikou Civilization East Tunnel, which has now officially opened and become a new landmark in Haikou.
Hainan, the world’s largest independent geographical free trade port, plays a significant role in China’s Belt and Road initiative. Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, is developing as an international tourism gateway. The Haikou Jiangdong New Area serves as the core of the “Haicheng Cultural Integration” on the city’s eastern wing. The Civilized East Tunnel is a vital transportation link connecting Jiangdong New Area and forms part of its strategic future development.
△ Overall site plan
△ Overall site plan
The Haikou Civilization East Tunnel is the first tunnel crossing the Vietnamese River in Hainan Province, spanning a total length of 4,380 meters, including a 2,720-meter tunnel section. It features a six-lane, two-way road designed for speeds up to 60 km/h, with ramps designed for 40 km/h. The deepest excavation reaches over 23 meters.
△ Aerial views from high altitude
Penda China designed three above-ground light transition exits for the main road of the Civilized East Tunnel: one large exit on the east bank and two smaller exits on the west bank. When vehicles enter or exit tunnels, drivers’ eyes require time to adjust to changes in light. The “light transition” structures function as shading measures to prevent the black hole effect at tunnel entrances, where rapid changes in brightness can cause momentary blindness and compromise safety.
△ Aerial views from high altitude
Traditional light transition shading uses light grid strips, which create alternating light and shadow patterns resembling zebra stripes on the ground. If not carefully designed, these can cause flickering effects, visual discomfort, and distraction for drivers, impacting safety. To avoid this, the Civilized East Tunnel uses a fully covered shade with a slightly raised opening at the end, allowing for a smooth natural transition of light while preventing the formation of disruptive light and shadow patterns at the entrance.
△ Aerial view from high altitude
The light transition design balances functional requirements with the city’s image. As a key urban infrastructure, the Civilized East Tunnel stands as a new landmark for Haikou and symbolizes the future Jiangdong New Area. Drawing inspiration from Haikou’s coastal identity, the design integrates marine life elements, culminating in an elegant, pure white shell form that blends various marine traits. Using biomimicry, this architectural sculpture embodies unique marine characteristics, innovation, and a futuristic aesthetic.
△ Aerial views from high altitude
The shell is crafted from glazed aluminum panels to showcase a crystal-clear sheen. Multiple rib lines at the top and bottom emphasize the shell’s contours. The base features undulating wave patterns, enhancing texture and expression through reflected lighting, which also doubles as floodlighting. The side walls adjacent to the light transition section carry on the shell’s materiality, resembling the gill structures of marine organisms. Their undulating shapes create rhythmic reflections, further enhanced by embedded stainless steel sheets on granite surfaces. This design mimics water ripples, spreading light reflections gracefully.
△ East Coast exit
Six-lane view at night
△ East Coast exit
△ Two-way lane
△ Ramp turns
To enhance the urban nightscape, light beads are embedded along the ribs of the structure since its large size prevents illumination from above. These beads emit scattered light at night, and through programmed dynamic lighting effects, the shell glows like bioluminescent organisms of the deep ocean, adding a romantic ambiance to the city’s nights.
△ Night aerial views from high altitude
The three light transition shells, each varying in size and location, form clusters that harmonize with the city’s texture. From above, they stand in stark contrast to the surrounding older cityscape, creating a surreal visual impact. Beyond the river and tunnel lies the future cityscape of Jiangdong New Area, still decades away but hinted at by these visionary architectural forms. These shells symbolize an imaginative glimpse into the city’s future.
△ Night aerial view from high altitude
△ Conceptual model diagram
△ East Coast exit plan
△ East bank exit elevation
△ East bank exit side profile
△ West Coast North Line exit plan
△ Side view of the North West Coast Line exit
△ West Coast North Line exit profile
△ West Coast South Line exit plan
Project Overview
Project Name: Haikou Civilization East Tunnel Light Transition Design
Location: Haikou City, Hainan Province
Scale: Tunnel section length of 2,720 meters; light transition areas measuring 30 by 60 meters on the east bank and 15 by 60 meters on the west bank
Design Year: 2020
Lead Designers: Sun Dayong and Wan Shuyan
Design Team: Penda China
Construction Drawings: Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Rail Transit Design and Research Institute
Photography: Summer Solstice
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