Hainan Province, known for its stunning tropical island scenery, has long attracted travelers from around the globe. After three years of dedicated design and construction, Muda Architecture proudly unveils the Haikou Xixiu Park Visitor Center. This project embodies a commitment to seamlessly blend local culture and spirit with the natural landscape, all while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
Situated amidst lush vegetation and the gentle sound of nearby waves, the building resembles an oval pebble gently pulled from the shore. It harmoniously combines traditional wisdom with contemporary design, offering visitors a unique space for exploration and immersion.
Background and Inspiration: Haikou, located at the mouth of the Nandu River in southern China, is famed for its tropical scenery and coastal charm. The visitor center sits at the entrance to Xixiu Park on Haikou’s west coast, designed with deep respect for nature and local landmarks, making it a city icon.
To align with the park’s linear layout, the design features a streamlined elliptical form that integrates naturally into the surroundings. The visitor center resembles a smooth pebble resting among rich greenery, embraced by the sound of waves, creating a distinctive spatial experience for visitors to Coconut City.
The visitor center’s main structure and curtain wall feature a protruding roof divided into four descending levels that follow a smooth curve, gently cascading from high to low. This design abstractly reflects the movement of water and pays homage to traditional residential architecture.
The building’s exterior is made entirely of highly transparent ultra-white tempered hollow glass, offering visitors uninterrupted 360° views of the park from inside. The glass curtain wall also creates a sense of the roof floating lightly above the surrounding rainforest.
The glass curtain wall is complemented by aluminum perforated sunshade louvers of varying lengths. These louvers connect to form a flowing linear curve, reminiscent of water waves, adding a dynamic rhythm to the building’s facade that echoes the coastal culture.
Together with the protruding roof, the sunshade louvers help reduce direct sunlight on the glass curtain wall, contributing to energy efficiency and sustainable building design.
The building’s overall form is elliptical, with the spatial layout divided into two contrasting zones: “virtual” and “real.” The courtyard inside the building represents the “virtual” space, sharply contrasting with the “real” indoor areas.
The continuous curved roof is clad in silver-white aluminum panels, which reflect light and make the structure stand out in its natural surroundings. Meanwhile, the underside of the roof features wood-grain aluminum panels that create a visual connection with the environment, blending architecture and nature harmoniously.
Inside, the clearly defined roof allows soft natural light to fill the space. The staggered arrangement of functional areas enhances the spatial hierarchy.
The first level hosts an open reception hall, a multifunctional exhibition space, and a café, welcoming visitors as they enter. The second level contains service rooms such as restrooms, maternity and baby rooms, a medical center, alongside logistical spaces like offices and monitoring rooms.
White steel columns run continuously throughout the interior and exterior, providing structural support and creating a rhythmic spatial experience for visitors as they move and pause within the building.
MUDA Architecture honors nature, embraces innovation, and values both locality and modernity. The design focuses on close integration with the natural ecology, fully reflecting the park’s character and harmoniously blending the architecture with its surroundings.
Through the fusion of tradition and innovation and the interplay of virtual and real spaces, the project delivers a fresh and immersive visitor center experience.
Project Information
△ Model Diagram
△ Model Diagram
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Exploded Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architect: Muda Architecture
Area: 1996 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photography: Literal Translation of Architectural Photography, Existence of Architecture – Architectural Photography
Manufacturers: Sichuan Nanbo Energy Saving Glass Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Haoding Building Materials Co., Ltd.
Lead Designer: Lu Yun
Design Team: He Fan, Xu Jiandan, Rong Dian, Li Hao, Lv Chenyu, Zhan Ziqi, Mei Yixuan, Jia Shuran
Landscape Design: Lab D+H
Structural Design Consultant: iStructure
Project Quality Control: Hainan Wanhua Investment Co., Ltd. / Wanhua Group Honeycomb Workshop
Construction Drawing Design and EPC General Contracting: Sichuan Provincial Institute of Architectural Design & Research; China Huaxi Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Principal Contractor: Haikou Urban Construction Group Co., Ltd.
Location: Haikou
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