The Zhujiajiao Tourist Service Center is situated in the northwest corner of the historic and cultural district of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, Qingpu, Shanghai. Positioned at the junction where the ancient town meets the new town, this building addresses two key challenges. First, it must respond to the regional culture and architectural style of the Zhujiajiao Ancient Town area. Second, it needs to consider the characteristics of the suburban new town. These distinct perspectives converge as the foundation for the architectural concept.
The building features a dark gray metal sloping roof, aligning with the scenic area’s planning guidelines. The roof’s top slope is uniquely deformed, diverging from the traditional double slope design. Although the new structure is larger than the surrounding historic houses, the roof is split into two triangular sections, which reduces the building’s overall scale and integrates it more harmoniously into its context.
The building has two floors. The ground floor accommodates a tourist service hall and public restrooms. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls make up most of the exterior, providing transparency that invites the public inside and enhances the connection to the street. This design choice also fills the interior with abundant natural light.
The second floor serves as a tourism management center. Its exterior features a cantilevered laminated wood frame, creating a distinctive architectural identity. This use of wood also establishes a dialogue with the traditional wooden doors, windows, and facades found throughout Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, symbolizing the evolution of technology and materials across eras.
Facing Kezhi Garden Road, the building extends outward to form a welcoming entrance space. In the relatively open urban setting of the new town, this cantilevered, semi-enclosed area creates a memorable sense of place. The overhang is shielded by a transparent outer layer made of mirrored stainless steel grating. This design allows natural light to enter while reflecting the surrounding street scene onto the building’s edge, creating a unique intersection between the structure and the city environment.
The tourist service hall offers ticketing, information, rest areas, and souvenir sales. A skylight above the service desk floods the interior with natural light. The public restroom meets AAA-level tourist standards, featuring a public handwashing area, family restroom, and mother-and-baby room. Skylights are also incorporated here to maximize daylight, eliminating the typical dark and damp atmosphere often found in public restrooms.
The Zhujiajiao Tourist Service Center not only strives to forge a respectful relationship with the ancient town’s historic environment through its architecture, but also aims to address the frequent lack of local identity in suburban new towns, contributing positively to the redevelopment of the area.
Project Drawings
▲ Base schematic diagram
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ Sectional view
Project Information
Architectural Design: Unparalleled Architecture Studio
Area: 1781 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: Wu Qingshan
Manufacturer: SKF Construction
Lead Architect: Feng Lu
Design Team: Li Chuanchen, Zhu Wenlai, Zhu PayPal, Gao Yi
Partners: Shanghai Urban and Rural Architectural Design Institute Co., Ltd., Shanghai Sikafu Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.
Location: Shanghai, China
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