Situated in Wanzhou, Chongqing, the project stands beside the Yangtze River on the edge of a cliff with a vertical drop of approximately 30 meters. This unique location offers an unparalleled experience but also presents significant design challenges. The total construction area spans roughly 3,000 square meters and includes a landscape elevator connecting the cliff’s height difference, the main experience hall building, and an observation tower overlooking the river.
Because the building is perched atop a cliff, achieving both visibility and accessibility was a primary design concern. Additionally, the structure needed to blend seamlessly with its environment without causing ecological disruption. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding mountains, the design incorporates folded building volumes, fragmented planes, and winding internal pathways that create dynamic spatial relationships reminiscent of natural caves.
The main structure is a glass polyhedron, segmented into several discrete glass units based on their function. The supporting columns are entirely detached from these glass bodies and are designed as polyhedral stone pillars. This contrast of volumes and materials between the stone columns and glass structures creates a distinct architectural statement. The glass polyhedron is sheltered by a roof supported by these stone pillars, employing a linear architectural language. Numerous gaps between the stone columns and glass elements produce a rich series of semi-enclosed spaces.
Additionally, some of these spaces feature polygonal openings in the roof, inspired by the irregular shapes of natural caves. Sunlight filters through these openings, enhancing the spatial experience within these sheltered areas.
The landscape elevator, an essential transport link bridging the 30-meter vertical gap, is designed to be both prominent and harmonious. To avoid the elevator appearing abrupt or out of place, multiple design alternatives were explored. The final design presents a polygonal silhouette, making the elevator resemble a stone pillar nestled among the mountains. The top rest platform is deliberately exaggerated, creating a striking volumetric contrast that both highlights the entrance and offers an excellent vantage point.
To enhance visitors’ appreciation of the river views and Wanzhou’s urban landscape, the design includes a viewing tower that extends beyond the cliff edge, offering expansive vistas. Upon entering the tower, visitors are guided through a framed landscape created by two walls, a design technique inspired by traditional garden methods of framing and borrowing scenery. This approach offers a dynamic experience, revealing changing views as one progresses through the space.
Project Information
Project Name: Wanzhou Yongjiang Riverside Exhibition Center
Project Type: Cultural Architecture
Location: Chongqing
Status: Completed
Building Area: 3,357 square meters
Design Team: AOE Construction Team
Lead Architect: Wen Qun
Technical Director: Ma Jianning
Project Team: Wen Qun, Ma Jianning, Lu Jian, Li Jianxin, Zhang Lu, Lin Yuqing, Tang Xiao
Curtain Wall Consultant: Shenzhen Anxing Construction Group Co., Ltd
Owner: Chongqing Lanbowan Real Estate Co., Ltd
Photographer: Huang Ligang
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