Beijing and Shanghai-based architecture practice CLOU architects has designed the Sanya Farm Lab with a gridded exoskeleton that blurs foundries between inside and outside.

Located in Nanfan High Tech District of Sanya - the southernmost city on tropical Hainan Island in China, the structure is made of deep grid modules to ensure climatic conditions inside, while providing a semitransparent appearance from outside.

Inspired by the traditional house of Hainan Li nationality, the new farm lab emerges as a modern performance of the long-established architecture context.

Covering a total of 4,000 square meters, the structure reaches four storey and offers exhibition space and retails units such as reception/beer bar, restaurant, organic farm, market, agriculture factory, bar and kitchen. 

Nanfan District of Sanya is transforming into a tropical agriculture scientific research hub. 

"The local government is investing in researches on environmental change, land/water scarcity, and food production issues, as well as the growing demand of middle-class Chinese’s desire to return to the natural field and rural area tourism," said CLOU architects. 

In this sense, the aim of design is to combine the climate characteristics of Sanya, integrate the regional scientific and technological agricultural elements, and create a multi-functional research compound and commercial display space.

The completion of the Nanshan Farm Lab is based on the modern organic agriculture display and the upgrading and evolution of lifestyles. It blurs the traditional boundaries between nature and the city and narrows the distance between technology and life.

Not Just An Exhibition Center

The Farm Lab integrates and covering high-tech exhibitions such as agricultural robotics, indoor vertical farming, etc. It brings a brand new “farm-to-table” experience. 

The wish of the design is to present the advanced technologies in front of the public in real-time, highlighting the progress which agricultural techs made in lifestyle and education territory. And its key point is to blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, maximizing visitors’ communication and interactions inside and outside the architectural building. 

Platforms, Stairs, and Shade

The architecture structure was developed into three steps: first, constructed outdoor public space. Set up an outdoor public space with clear scales and rich levels through strategically combining four storeys’ functional massing. 

The cantilever on the second floor created a semi-outdoor rain shelter for the first floor and a relaxing outdoor public platform for outside dining and children’s playing for the third floor.

Second, knitted outdoor public spaces together through outdoor circulation. Used a spiral stair and huge stairs of the multi-functional theatre to connect the indoor and outdoor, which made the flow more frequently to go outside and finally achieved the thorough connection.

Third, enhanced the comfort level of outdoor space. The 800mm deep roof grid structure reduced the sunlight absorption by 70 per cent. It provided a shelter for the outdoor platform, and at the same time ensured natural ventilation and an open view.

Floor plan

Section

Elevation

Project facts

Project Name: Sanya Farm 

Lab Type: Exhibition, Retail 

Client: Jinmao Sanya Nanfan Rongmao Real Estate Co., Ltd. 

Location: Sanya, Hainan Island, China Construction 

Area: 6,900 sqm 

Status: Completion in 2021 

Architecture Design: CLOU architects Interior Design 

Concept: CLOU architects 

Design Team Leader: Jan Clostermann, Lin Li 

Design Team: Na Zhao, Sebastian Loaiza, Julien Douillet, Yaxi Wang, Tianshu Liu, Tiago Tavares, Principia Wardhani, Javier Peláez, Yiqiao Zhao 

Construction Drawings/MEP/Structure: Urban Architecture Design Co., Ltd 

Façade Consultant: China Building Technique Group Co., Ltd. 

Interior Design Construction Drawings: G-Aart design 

Lighting Consultant: Fuzhou Bovs Lighting Design Co., Ltd. 

All images © Shining Laboratory

All drawings © CLOU architects 

> via CLOU architects