aoe has completed an experience pavilion and an observation tower on the edge of a cliff in Chongqing, China. 

Named Wanzhou Yongjiang Reception Center, the project is located in Wanzhou, Chongqing, on the edge of a cliff with a vertical height of about 30 meters, close to the Yangtze River. 

The reception center is made of a glass polyhedron structure and a roof supported by stone pillars. A striking observation tower marks the structure from afar. 

The site provides a unique experience for the project and brings a lot of challenges to the design. 

The total construction area of the project is about 3,000 square meters, including a landscape elevator connected to the height difference of the cliff, the main building of the experience hall, and the observation tower for enjoying river views.

Since the building is located on top of a cliff, how to realize the visibility and accessibility of the building has become a consideration in the design. At the same time, the building needs to be integrated with the overall environment, and cannot cause damage to it. Therefore, the design inspiration naturally comes from the mountain. 

The building volume of the folded surface, the plane division of the folded line, and the tortuous and changeable internal path form a spatial relationship that simulates a natural cave with rich volume and variable space.

The main structure of the building is a glass polyhedron. Several discrete glass volumes are formed according to the functions, with columns completely separated from them. The glass polyhedron is covered by a roof supported by stone pillars. 

The roof also adopts a polyline-shaped architectural vocabulary. A large number of gaps are extruded by the stone pillars and the glass polyhedron under the roof, which becomes a rich gray space in the project. 

At the same time, the roof of some gray space is excavated. Different sized holes are also used in the form of polygons to simulate the shape of natural caves. The sunlight pours down through the holes, which enriches the spatial experience of the gray space.

As an important traffic space connecting the height difference of 30 meters, the landscape elevator is relatively more obvious in terms of volume. At the same time, it will appear more abrupt. The challenge was how to avoid the abruptness of tall and large volumes under the premise of ensuring the obviousness in design. aoe compared multiple schemes, and the final design also adopts the form of the polyhedron. 

The elevator as a whole is more like a stone pillar standing between the mountains; the rest platform at the top of the elevator adopts a relatively exaggerated treatment method, forming a strong sense of conflict. The relationship between the volumes shows the image of the entrance, while at the same time forming an excellent viewing point.

In order to better appreciate the river view and urban landscape of Wanzhou, the design adds the observation tower. The tower protrudes beyond the cliff body and has a wider field of vision. 

At the same time, when entering the viewing tower, the design defines a landscape through two wall frames and draws upon the design techniques of framing and borrowing in garden design to form a different viewing effect.

Floor plan

Sketch

Section

Project facts

Project Type: Culture Architecture

Project Location: Chongqing

Project Area: 3357㎡

Architecture Firm: aoe 

Firm Location: Beijing, China

Lead Architects: Qun Wen

Technical Director: Jianning Ma

Design Team: Qun Wen, Jianning Ma, Jian Lu, Jianxin Li, Lu Zhang, Yuqing Lin, Xiao Tang

Curtain Wall Consultant: Shenzhen AnXing Construction Group Co., Ltd.

Construction Status: Chongqing Lanbowan Real Estate Co., Ltd.

All images © Ligang Huang

All drawings © aoe 

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