Bird’s-eye view from above
This project is situated in Longli County, within the Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Qiannan City, Guizhou Province, bordering Huaxi District of Guiyang City. It serves as a key gateway to “Longxi New City” as part of Guizhou’s urban development plan. The area is designated for high-quality residential use, with a central hill preserved as parkland, covered by 30-meter-high pine trees, which is the site of the “Tower of the Future”.
From the city streets, the upper half of the Tower of the Future appears to float above the pine forest, while the lower half is nestled within the trees.
The future is full of endless possibilities and remains elusive—never confined to a single form. In designing this “future”-themed lookout tower, the focus was not on perfecting form or technology, but on expressing an aspirational spirit that reaches upward toward the future.
At the same time, the design deeply explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. The tower features minimalist architecture, employing linear and geometric forms as a distinct human language to emphasize its artificial structure. The surrounding environment maintains the original pine forest vegetation, aiming to preserve and restore the natural landscape as much as possible. Thin steel cables connect the roof and ground, creating a semi-transparent “curtain” that defines the boundary between inside and outside. These cables twist in the air, visually dividing the tower into upper and lower sections. The lower section blends into the pine forest, engaging in a dialogue with nature, while the lightweight, translucent upper section resembles an otherworldly object hovering above the trees. This harmonious coexistence reconciles what might seem like opposing forces: humanity and the natural world.
The tower’s lower section is enveloped by pine trees, with thin steel cables forming a semi-transparent curtain that defines interior and exterior spaces.
The experience of the Tower of the Future unfolds as a journey connecting its various parts. It begins on a city street, where the tower’s ethereal form rising above the pine forest draws attention from afar. Visitors approach the tower with anticipation, entering the shadowy, natural environment created by the trees. At specific times, sunlight filters through the watchtower, producing a sacred, ceremonial atmosphere. A ladder rises from the ground, inviting exploration of the unknown landscape on the roof. Though climbing may be tiring, reaching the top offers relief—a shallow pool reflects the sky and distant mountains, calming the spirit. This evocative journey inspires emotional uplift and reflection.
The Tower of the Future faces the main street of the community.
The first floor serves as an auditorium and multipurpose activity space. Its main line of sight faces south, and sunlight passes through the central axis at specific times.
The roof features a shallow reflecting pool that mirrors the sky and distant mountains, providing a space for emotional elevation and contemplation.
△ General layout plan
△ Floor plans
△ Cross-section diagram
△ Model photo
Project Information
Project Name: Guiyang Contemporary MOM ∧ Future City – Tower of the Future
Location: China, Guizhou
Type: Landscape Architecture
Function: Watchtower, Coffee Shop
Owner: ΜΟΜ∧ Contemporary
Design Management Team: Han Feiyu, Ma Shenshen, Zhang Shuo, Chen Tao, Liu Zhongxiang
Architectural Design: Sanlei Design and Sanlei Fang Wei
Lead Architects: Zhang Hua, He Wei
Design Team: Liu Xiaoya, Artyom Alimpiyev
Structural Consultant: Lu Qinggang
Lighting Consultant: Leitingdi Sai Lighting Design Partner Firm (UK)
Curtain Wall Consultant: Yinghaite Engineering Consulting
Design Sketch: SAN
Base Area: 13,100 m²
Floor Area: 408 m²
Design Period: 06/2019 – 08/2019
Status: Preliminary Design
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