Chinese language studio Open Structure has accomplished the 50-metre-tall Solar Tower, which has a conical concrete type designed to comply with the trail of the solar, in Yantai, northeast China.
Situated in Yantai’s Yeda Growth Zone, the cultural and neighborhood venue contains exhibition areas, a semi-outdoor theatre, a library, a viewing deck, a restaurant and a bar.
Based on the Beijing-based studio, the design of the cone-shaped constructing was knowledgeable by a large sundial and was additionally supposed as a up to date tackle lighthouse typologies.
“Solar Tower is uncommon by way of its architectural typology — it’s concurrently a up to date cultural constructing, a civic gathering place, a watchtower for ocean statement, a large sundial, an training centre for environmental consciousness, and a lighthouse for city souls looking past the horizon,” Open Structure co-founder Li Hu instructed Dezeen. “It’s fusing collectively the entire above, a brand new form of species.”
Solar Tower was constructed in session with engineering agency Arup and is comprised of two layers of concrete conical shells, linked and braced by horizontal slabs and ramps that ascend via the constructing.
The outside of the constructing is punctured by quite a few round home windows that had been designed to funnel mild and enhance air flow with out rising power consumption.
The ocean-facing facet of the constructing seems to be sliced open, creating an undisrupted sea view for the theatre on the bottom flooring and the viewing deck on prime.
Guests can entry the theatre through a passage tunnel slicing via the constructing. The theatre occupies the concave interior shell, which the studio says naturally amplifies the sound absorbed from the ocean.
Exhibition areas are organized alongside the pedestrian ramps and have digital screens and projections.
Phenomena House, a library and semi-outdoor viewing deck, sits on prime of the constructing. Right here, a round opening within the roof permits rainwater to fall right into a pool beneath, creating a singular water set up.
Open Structure designed Solar Tower’s form by following the altering path of the solar all year long, in a nod to the area’s historic connection to sun-worshipping.
The northern fringe of the constructing is parallel to the midday daylight of the equinoxes, whereas the doorway tunnel aligns with the sundown on the winter solstice.
The central axis of the theatre is positioned to align with the dawn over the close by Zhifu Island on the summer season solstice.
Open Structure unveils rock-like live performance corridor in a valley outdoors Beijing
The theatre additionally extends to an outside plaza, which surrounds the constructing and is roofed in a collection of elliptical ring patterns.
A linear water channel cuts throughout the plaza and the intersections between the ring patterns and the water channel had been designed to match the shadow of the constructing at particular hours on the equinox days.
Open Structure wished the venture to assist reconnect individuals with nature.
“From the overwhelming public enthusiasm and the sheer quantity of tourists to the constructing since its opening, we felt deeply grateful and reassured of what we got down to do – making structure that may assist join individuals with nature and time in profound methods,” stated Open Structure co-founder Huang Wenjing.
“Nature is sacred, that is our perception. To battle local weather disaster, we ought to alter how we see and perceive the world,” she continued.
Open Structure was established by Li Hu and Huang Wenjing in 2003 in New York, with a Beijing workplace opened in 2008. The duo are judges for this yr’s Dezeen Awards China.
The studio is thought for integrating nature into its constructed initiatives, which embrace a rock-like live performance corridor outdoors of Beijing named Chapel of Sound and an artwork gallery inside a sand dune.
The images is by Jonathan Leijonhufvud until in any other case said.
Challenge credit:
Principals in chargee: Li Hu, Huang WenjingProject crew: Design part: Cao Mengxing, Liu Xiaoyang, Daijiro Nakayama, Lu Di, Wen Peng, Wei Zihao, Zhang Ziyao, Lin Jingran, Crystal Kwan, Bi Shunjie, Giovanni Zorzi, Anastasia MaslovaCA Section: Lu Di, Daijiro Nakayama, Wang Dongsheng, Liu Dandi, Tang JunhanLocal design institute: Shandong Pulaien Engineering Design Co., Ltd.Structural & MEP: ArupLighting guide: Ning Discipline Lighting DesignSpecial fireproof design: Institute of Constructing Fireproof System, CABRScenographer: dUCKS scénoCuratorial guide: Aric Chen
