As dusk falls, guests anxiously await the boat’s arrival at Yanzhu, eager for something new.
Under a wild sky dotted with low trees, the clear river and the moon feel intimately close.
— From Meng Haoran’s “Staying at Jiande River”
Located by the Water
This project is situated in Beihu Park, Chenghua District, Chengdu City. Surrounded by lake waters and lush vegetation, it feels like a small island. On misty mornings or rainy days, the entire site is enveloped in fog, and the exhibition area resembles a small boat moored at the shore, waiting to reveal its charm—aptly named “Boat Mooring at Yanzhu.”
⊙ Project Location
Along the path to the exhibition area stands a pure white sculpture named “Luming North Lake,” serving as an entrance sign. This artistic installation enhances the venue’s visual appeal and piques visitors’ curiosity. As you walk alongside it, the sculpture’s dynamic curves guide your gaze toward the distant architecture, signaling your approach to the exhibition space.
The water area of Beihu Park is expansive and scenic. To make the most of this resource, the design takes advantage of the site’s elevation relative to the municipal roads, following the natural terrain and maximizing both positive and negative spatial values. The base is approximately 5 meters higher than the municipal roads, offering enhanced lake views. Additionally, by angling the building, the main space faces the lake, avoiding visual interference from nearby bus stops and substations.
⊙ Visual Analysis
⊙ Design Development
⊙ Master Plan
A winding pathway meanders through a “Forest Sea” of lush grass, offering ever-changing views with each step. This trail leads visitors from vibrant greenery to serene tranquility. The minimalist landscape design fosters a pure, natural atmosphere, with gently rolling hills that evoke a wild, untouched feeling.
We designed an unobstructed visual corridor through green spaces that intersect with the building’s surrounding water features, naturally guiding visitor movement. Without tall trees blocking the view, visitors experience a walk through nature, creating a misty and captivating atmosphere.
⊙ Sectional Drawing
Zhoubo Yanzhu
The design aims to transform the Luming North Lake Demonstration Zone into a “floating art residence,” offering visitors a poetic living experience alongside an architectural exhibition space rich in local character. The concept, “Boat Mooring at Yanzhu,” emphasizes evoking an ethereal, almost intangible quality throughout the building.
⊙ Hand-Drawn Architecture
⊙ Artistic Concept Diagram
If the architecture is envisioned as a boat, then the park’s land acts as the “zhu” (reed). Our design uses the landscape as a foundation, with expansive water features supporting the building as if it were a boat. Dark curved walls soften the rigidity of the elevated structure, while the upper level employs a tapering form—narrow at the base and broad at the top—making the first floor visually “disappear” into the surroundings. This creates the impression that the second floor is floating in the air. Coupled with landscape mist, the poetic vision of “boats moored in a misty sea” is fully realized.
The architectural form creates a serene grey space on the first floor that blends harmoniously with the surrounding scenery, offering visitors a tranquil place to relax. Elements such as flooring, roofs, columns, and water features extend seamlessly from the exterior to the interior, blurring boundaries and unifying the design. The pillars serve as visual anchors, framing distant views as if capturing them in a picture.
To optimize sightlines, the design team conducted on-site drone simulations to determine the ideal viewing height. A borderless water pool is positioned in front of the second-floor sand table, featuring an overhang averaging at least 6 meters and reaching over 8 meters at maximum. This creates a seamless transition between artificial and natural landscapes, where water and sky blend into one, providing visitors with a breathtaking spatial experience. Additionally, a viewing platform over 20 meters wide allows guests to fully appreciate the expansive beauty of the park.
To create a cohesive connection between the first and second floors, a concealed water curtain flows along the edge of the borderless pool on the second floor. The cascading water links the two levels and integrates the building with the surrounding landscape. Complemented by a bridge at the entrance, this design evokes a small, flowing water bridge that adds a welcoming, homely touch.
The main functions of the demonstration zone are located on the second floor, designed for experiential and functional use. In the future, this space will serve as a community support facility, including reception, a book bar, children’s entertainment, and exhibition areas. From this elevated vantage point, visitors can enjoy expansive lake views extending far beyond the park.
⊙ Streamline Analysis
⊙ Floor Plan
Entering the reception hall, visitors are greeted by a sweeping arc. The curved marble wall illuminated by soft metal lighting blends warm white tones with delicate metallic hues, crafting a unique spatial boundary. This design reflects the theme of boarding and setting sail, evoking the luxurious feel of a yacht.
The dynamic vortex created by a speeding yacht inspired the spiral staircase design. Minimalist metal lines outline the vortex shape, complemented by a 10-meter-high ultra-white glass wall facing the central courtyard, enriching the spatial and visual experience.
⊙ Spiral Staircase Concept
Exquisite Craftsmanship
The building’s façade embodies the concept of a “boat moored in the misty sea,” with glass curtain walls and metal accents shaping its overall form. Its smooth, streamlined design reflects a free postmodern architectural style, creating a futuristic and technologically advanced demonstration area.
⊙ Façade Breakdown
The first floor is elevated and clad with dark faux stone aluminum panels to minimize its visual impact. Its tapering conical shape—narrow at the base and wider at the top—gives the building a floating, weightless appearance, effectively camouflaging the first floor.
The second floor consists mainly of large ultra-white glass surfaces combined with champagne gold and silver aluminum panels, forming a dynamic “boat” shape. The champagne gold grille ceiling adds depth and richness, while the champagne silver panels and integrated lighting trace the gentle waves of the roofline.
⊙ Material Analysis
While the front courtyard design is open and inviting, the back courtyard takes a more introverted, restrained approach. The backstage area emphasizes real-life courtyard landscapes and model rooms, focusing on environmental experience. Auxiliary functional rooms are located near this backstage area.
The backyard courtyard is lively and dynamic, featuring flowing flooring patterns embellished with flowers and plants. A small pavilion, designed to fit the terrain’s contour, occupies a corner of the site. Its undulating roof complements the main display area.
The gable and roof feature champagne silver metallic paint, giving a sleek and smooth appearance. Concealed metal lines house lighting elements that guide visitors as night falls. The building’s rear presents a primarily gray façade — crisp, minimalist, and powerful — exuding an elegant, refined commercial atmosphere.
⊙ Elevation View
Chenghu Harmony
This project occupies a central position in the North Lake area, offering expansive natural views of the lake. The pure Western-style residential community benefits from abundant natural light and panoramic vistas, embodying the harmonious coexistence of lake and park, city and nature.
The overall layout features a large enclosed area with staggered building heights to maintain clear sightlines and prevent visual obstruction, ensuring that most residences enjoy unobstructed lake views.
⊙ Renderings
The rounded eaves, curved base lines, and dynamic roof shapes create a rich architectural profile. Alternating wide and narrow curved lines between floors add visual rhythm, making the façade more dynamic. The entrance lobby is designed to be simple and elegant, with a warm, delicate atmosphere that feels inviting and human-scaled.
The carefully designed model rooms are simple yet elegant, featuring lively, bright colors that convey a warm, homely atmosphere. Shared spaces include the Star Lake Forest Sea and Private Flower Villas with Eight Gardens. The landscapes between homes are thoughtfully planned, with spacious openings and large glass windows allowing abundant natural light. Residents enjoy both internal gardens and first-line views of Beihu Park’s lake.
Project Information
Project Name: Chengdu Shoukai Jindi · Luming North Lake
Location: Longhua District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province
Owner: Chengdu Shoukai Chengdu Jindi
Function: Demonstration Zone
Building Area: Large area: 182,861 m²; Demonstration area: 1,178 m²
Architectural Design: Chengzhi Design
Design Director: Xu Peng
Shanghai Design Team: Chen Capital, Yu Kuai, Xu Ziang, Peng Siming, Xiong Jian, Zhao Tianlong
Chengdu Design Team: Li Haiyang, Chen Fan, Xiao Rui, Liang Hongyan
Construction Drawing Design: Zhouyu Design Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu Branch
Landscape Design: Aoya Design
Interior Design: Shanghai Gengsong Space Design Co., Ltd.
Design Period: September 2021 – December 2021
Completion Date: April 2022
Project Photography: PrismImage Hino
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