This project’s design begins with the overall urban plan. The site is located within an urban strip park, nestled between two man-made canals: Donghu Port and Shahu Port. It straddles both sides of Tuanjie Avenue, with the main tourist center building situated on the park’s northern side. On the southern side, the research center comprises a teaching area, dormitories, office buildings, and outdoor activity spaces. The design’s goal is to develop a sponge research and learning complex integrated within the sponge park.
On the eastern edge of the site stands an ancient stone bridge from the Ming Dynasty—the Beiyang Ancient Bridge. This landmark inspired the recurring theme of “bridge and connection” throughout the plan. Due to the differing functions of the northern and southern plots, their shapes vary. The tourist center on the north side requires less space, so it was given an irregular quadrilateral form that adapts to the terrain. To reduce building footprint, the center features an excavated middle block forming an inward-facing circular plaza.
The research center on the south side is organized into three distinct zones: the teaching area, dormitory area, and office area. The teaching area features a square layout, the dormitory area is designed with dynamic curves, and the office area comprises standalone small buildings arranged in a square layout. This arrangement creates a harmonious relationship, with the office area’s square form complementing the curves of the dormitories and echoing the shapes of the tourist center and teaching area.
The terrain varies notably across the site: the north side of the road sits on higher ground, while the south side is mostly flat and faces a lower river channel to the east. Hills formed by soil accumulation lie to the south. To adapt to the terrain, the dormitory building near the ancient bridge has its first floor elevation lowered to just above the river’s flood level, matching the basement elevation of the teaching area. As a result, the two-story dormitory appears as a single-story structure when viewed from the main park road.
The teaching area was developed through iterative refinement based on a 10×10 square grid with 8,400 columns. This uniform grid is stacked in three layers, with select units removed to create internal courtyards and terraces. These voids provide natural light, ventilation, and inward-facing landscapes for each space, while the gaps between buildings are connected by stairs and bridges.
This building, designed to offer three scenic views, embodies our architectural philosophy rooted in landscape concepts. It respects the site and nature, responding thoughtfully to terrain and geography. The design emphasizes the dynamic relationship between architecture and its viewers—highlighting the interaction of seeing and being seen. Like ancient Chinese literati paintings where mountains and waters take center stage, the architecture acts as a mere backdrop, honoring nature’s primacy beyond the built environment.
Project Drawings
△ Base Schematic Diagram
△ General Layout Plan
△ Zone A Underground Floor Plan
△ Zone A First Floor Plan
Zone B and C Underground First Floor Plan
Zone B and C First Floor Plan
Zone B and C Second Floor Plan
△ Zone B Diagram
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architect: UAO Ruituo Design
Area: 40,385 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Architectural Photography Here
Manufacturers: Guangxi Xinxun Building Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd., Shexian Yaohui Stone Business Department, Wuhan Hongguan Jiaju Building Materials Co., Ltd., Wuhan Xincheng Glass Co., Ltd., Zigong Qiming Building Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
Lead Architect: Li Tao
Design Team: Huang Mingchao, Li Long, Kong Fanyi, Long Kecheng
Construction Drawing Design Unit: Panhua Construction Group Co., Ltd. (Hubei Design Branch)
Landscape Design: Wuhan Landscape Architecture Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd.
Construction Contractor: China Railway First Group Co., Ltd.
Principal: Wuhan Dexin Construction Investment Co., Ltd.
Location: Wuhan
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