△ Aerial view
△ General layout plan
Origin
Chongming Island boasts a pristine natural environment, standing as a peaceful oasis amid the bustling city of Shanghai. This project draws inspiration from the island’s harmonious relationship with nature, aiming to create a space nestled among verdant mountains and waters.
The distinctive Sitingzhaigou residential buildings on Chongming Island are traditionally constructed along waterways, surrounded by water on all sides and enveloped by lush greenery. This setting offers a serene living environment characterized by simple elegance and beautiful scenery.
However, with ongoing modernization, these traditional buildings have gradually declined in the area. Preserving and revitalizing the local architectural heritage serves as a key motivation for this project.
△ Scenic view of Chongming Island © Image sourced from the internet
△ Traditional Sitingzhaigou Residential Buildings © Image sourced from the internet
Garden Park
The design embraces the traditional Si Ting Zhai Gou form, reinterpreting it through modern techniques to create an artistic vision that captures ancient spirit while expressing contemporary sensibilities.
△ Hand-drawn conceptual sketch
△ Shape development process
Spatial Concept
By thoughtfully integrating elements of traditional Sitingzhaigou dwellings into the architectural design, the project creates three distinctive spatial sequences: the Court of Rites, the Court of Light, and the Court of Health.
△ Spatial sequence illustration
△ Courtyard zoning plan
Before reaching the main entrance, visitors stroll along winding paths flanked by water and trees, evoking the sensation of entering a tranquil paradise.
△ Entrance pathway
Following the forest and water, visitors arrive at the building’s main entrance. The exterior grey space, the human-scale rain shelter by the entrance, and the two-story lobby inside offer a rich and engaging architectural experience.
△ Water surface outside the building
△ Sectional side view
△ Grey exterior space by main entrance
Sunlight filters through the skylight, guiding the flow of space. The staircase connects to create a unique area—the art front hall named “Sea Courtyard.” Architecturally, this is a pure glass box extending outward, offering visitors a moment of calm and direct views into the ‘Court of Rites’ through the transparent walls.
This art lobby features a distinctive cave-like space, embodying the island’s serene waters and tranquil atmosphere, seamlessly blending with the surrounding ecology.
△ Court of Rites
△ Art Front Hall
The building’s central feature is a sunken courtyard, the ‘Court of Light,’ surrounded by well-lit public spaces with scenic landscaping. On the south side lies a water feature called “Kangzhi Ting.” Combined with the surrounding landscape design, it reflects the traditional Chinese garden characteristic of “moving and changing scenery.”
This area also offers an outdoor water-friendly public space for relaxation, recreating the garden’s spatial spirit through modern design techniques.
△ Court of Light
△ Kangzhiting Water Feature
△ Sectional side view
△ Integrated architecture and courtyard view
Facade
The facade design draws inspiration from traditional white walls and gray tiles, incorporating expansive glass surfaces to merge old and new styles through a combination of tangible and intangible elements.
The roof pays homage to traditional Jiangnan dwellings with gray concrete tiles, while the sloping form harmoniously integrates with the inner courtyard and the large floor-to-ceiling glass walls on the south side. Modern technology facilitates a respectful echo and tribute to tradition.
△ Roof design development
△ Facade paying tribute to traditional residential architecture
△ Section diagram
Design Drawings
△ General layout plan
△ Basement floor plan
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation and sectional views
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Building Type: Exhibition Center
Building Area: 2,899 square meters
Developers: CITIC Taifu Real Estate, Renheng Land
Architectural Design: UA Business Unit 1
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