The Rushing Lava project is an urban public space and installation designed to enliven a newly constructed commercial and residential pedestrian street in Ningbo, the second-largest port city in Zhejiang Province, China.
A standout feature of this project is the expansive staircase that connects the open second-floor area of the commercial street. To transform this pedestrian junction into a multifunctional and visually striking public space, the designer strategically extended, separated, and fully utilized the staircase from the ground up. This intervention serves as the focal point, guiding the conceptual framework and acting as the project’s finishing touch.
The once simple staircase has been reimagined as a “volcano” that hosts various public activities. The design incorporates several open-air theaters at different levels, creating spaces for leisure and relaxation. A shading structure mimics the dynamic process of a volcanic eruption, providing shelter for the new resting areas. Additionally, a slide simulates lava flowing down a mountainside, adding an element of playful interaction.
The surrounding space continues the lava-inspired theme, with erupting magma flattening the ground and replacing it with bold, mottled colors and play features suitable for both children and adults. This creates a dynamic, multifunctional plaza at the pedestrian intersection. The flowing magma effect generates an engaging and lively spatial experience.
The magma square features multiple seating and resting areas under shaded canopies, as well as mahjong and cross-shaped game tables designed for adult relaxation. For children, the space includes swing pergolas, seesaws, slides, hills, ramps, tunnels, sandbags, and challenging obstacle courses along the path.
Overall, this project has created a vibrant public space that serves as a popular urban landmark and entertainment hub within the new commercial and residential development.
Project Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Analysis Chart
Project Details
Project Name: Flowing Lava
Designer: Baizhu Architectural Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Design Team: Marcial Jesús, Javier González, Mónica Páez, Lara Broglio, Ponyo Zhao, Keith Gong, Cosima Jiang, Hayley Huang, Michelle Aldora, Jango Zhang & Yuntong Liu.
Project Management Team: Jenny Fan, Nicholas Lv & Eva Jiang.
Client: Vanke China Co., Ltd. (Ningbo Division)
Area: 1350 square meters
Status: Built
Location: Ningbo, China
Photography: Rex Zhou
Video: Lalo
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