The project is located in Geographic Information Town, south of Deqing County, China. It sits, specifically, between Tashan No.2 Street and Tashan No.3 Street, and across Quyuan Road. Built on an island on Phoenix Lake, the grand architecture is a window for the world to see Deqing County. The building’s above-ground area covers 42,556 square meters, with a main structure of three floors and a height of 23.95 meters, and the underground construction area is 29,507 square meters.
The project takes on an ellipsoid shape, which is consistent with the form of the island where it is located. In this way, the overall architecture matches well with the site environment and integrates perfectly into Deqing County Geographic Information Town following the principle of “harmony in diversity”.
Since Quyuan Road passes through the plot, the building was divided into two parts, with its secondary entrance spaces located along the road. In the east and west hemispheres, the main entrances to the conference center and the grand theater were set up separately, facing the lake, and they are coordinated with the surroundings.
The east hemisphere of the project consists of the main venue for 2,000 people, a multi-functional hall for 500 people, a small lecture hall for 300 people and several conference rooms, while the west hemisphere contains a grand theater for 1,000 people, a cinema and other amenities. All the internal halls can be connected to each other through corridors and shared lobbies.
The design used the imagery of a phoenix that breaks through the clouds and dances in the sky. The overall architecture looks like a white glimmering cloud, lying silently on Phoenix Lake and integrating with the surrounding environment. The three-dimensional and hollowed-out metal roof looks like a “flying phoenix” that spreads its wings and soars, presenting a poetic picture. Viewing the entire building from a distance, the quietness of clouds and the “flying phoenix” form a distinct contrast, filled with a sense of drama.
With the glimmering and flowing “cloud” highlighting the lightness and flexibility of the “phoenix”, the whole building indicates the touching moment when the phoenix, reborn, flies through the clouds, and it predicts the promising future of Geographical Information Town.
Featuring simple structural forms, the interior space was endowed with an artistic conception of “woodland and bamboo shade nearby; mountains and flowing water at a distance” through the configuration of spaces, the use of materials, the introduction of devices and the appropriate integration of local elements. It combines the mountains, waters, clouds and trees of Deqing County organically, vividly presenting the geographical features of the beautiful landscape.
Taking as its starting point the recreation of a pastoral landscape in the county, the design aims to accentuate the local geographical features beyond the formal level, through flexible outdoor and indoor spaces, and the dynamic exterior shape of the architecture. It generates an urban public space where every guest, from the world over, can feel the modern and natural artistic conception, inspiring reflection and emotional resonance.
