The Panda Tower, designed by UDG. Atelier Alpha (Studio Zero of Lianchuang Design Group), stands as a cultural landmark within the expansion area of the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. This multifunctional structure integrates sightseeing, exhibitions, and tourism, embodying a harmonious blend of nature and technology.
Its architectural form draws inspiration from bamboo shoots—pandas’ favorite food and a staple ingredient in Sichuan cuisine, widely found across the Sichuan-Chongqing region. The natural geometric segmentation of bamboo shoots from base to tip offers an ideal and stable structural concept for the tower.
The tower comprises 11 floors in total. Each level features a viewing terrace oriented towards the park’s core landscape area, intentionally left open without curtain walls or grids, thus exposing the floor and inclined support structures.
The main floors incorporate curved structural units inspired by the flower petals of Chengdu’s hibiscus. The number of petal-shaped floor slabs decreases progressively from bottom to top in an arithmetic sequence. Viewed from above, the atrium reveals a spatial aesthetic enriched by this mathematical arrangement.
The crown of the Panda Tower is equipped with a powered mechanical curtain wall system. On special occasions—such as the birth of a panda cub, the return of a celebrated panda from abroad, or important festivals—the curtain wall panels open sequentially at programmed angles and speeds. This movement mimics the natural sprouting of bamboo shoots, providing an eco-friendly and engaging way to communicate with visitors.
The entire design of the Panda Tower is governed by full program control, where every building component is linked through constraint conditions. Geometric constraints define the spatial form, mechanical constraints determine structural dimensions, and dynamic constraints regulate movable elements. These precise mathematical formulas form the core design principles and aesthetic foundation of the tower’s spatial experience.
Project Drawings
△ Hand-drawn sketch
△ Hand-drawn sketch
△ Underground floor plan
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Third floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Fifth floor plan
△ Sixth floor plan
△ Seventh floor plan
△ Eighth floor plan
△ Ninth floor plan
△ Tenth floor plan
△ Eleventh floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
△ Analysis chart
△ Analysis chart
△ Analysis chart
Project Information
Architectural Design: Shanghai Lianchuang Design Group Studio Zero
Area: 4,785 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: SIMON, Existing Architecture
Manufacturers: Beilida, Sijida, Chengdu Meihui Glass Steel Products Co., Ltd., Panjin
Principal Architect: Zeng Zi
Design Team: Zeng Zi, Wu Qijing, Lei Yunqi, Zheng Yi, Zhang Nan, Tan Xinyu, Lu Guodong, Xin Kai, Lu Yangzhou, Liu Chentian, Shi Shupei, Cao Shangshang, Zhang Jiaqi
Competition Team: Zeng Zi, Qian Lie, Lei Yunqi, Zheng Yi, Lu Guodong, Shi Shupei
Construction Team: Zeng Zi, Wu Qijing, Lei Yunqi, Zheng Yi, Zhang Nan, Tan Xinyu, Lu Guodong, Xin Kai, Lu Yangzhou, Liu Chentian, Shi Shupei, Cao Shangshang, Zhang Jiaqi
Program Consultant: Fang Erqing
Client: Chengdu Tianfu Greenway Construction Investment Co., Ltd. / Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
Structural Consultant: iStructure
Curtain Wall Consultant: Inhabit
Construction Drawing Team: Chengdu Architectural Design and Research Institute
Mechanical Consultant: Shanghai Jiabei Electromechanical Technology Co., Ltd
Construction Party: China Metallurgical Group Corporation Limited
Location: Chengdu, China
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