Chinese architecture practice Ruf Architects has completed an exhibition gallery that features a water drop-shaped roof overlooking the Yongding River in Tianjin, China. 

Named Tianjing Zarsion Exhibition Center, a curvy roof hides a glass gallery volume underneath while complementing the existing landscape. 

"The project is located on the side of the winding tributary of Yongding River. In an endless meadow without a clear definition of the external place, the relationship between the building and the place is the floating feeling that arises naturally," said Ruf Architects. 

The architects started their design started with roof, the studio tried to use symbolic architectural language to establish a connection with the historical environment. 

They imagined a crystal clear water drop that would quietly dissolve into the endless and winding river. "However, with the gradual development of the narrative, metaphorical polysemy emerges," they added.

In the layout, the water drop shape is placed into the site diagonally, which not only elongates the moving line from the city interface to the entrance, but also makes the water drop shape more intuitive. 

The far-reaching cornice overhang and extensive glazing applications present a directionless floating roof. Accompanied by the swaying shadow of the trees, providing a charming tranquility.

As the architects highlight, the building does not have a clear main entrance. They used only three exposed diagonal wooden posts at the front to define the entrance space. 

"The cross section size of the wooden posts is similar to that of the surrounding tree trunks, making it easier to blend into the environment visually," the architects added.

"The floating sense of the roof is further enhanced."

Before entering the exhibition space from the front field, one enters a transitional space under the eaves, which is lowered. And then gradually steps under the leaf-shaped skylight. 

"We consciously controlled the interference of excessive direct light through the size of the skylight, so as to ensure the soft and quiet space atmosphere inside."

In the project landing, the biggest challenge is the large span and overhang in the structure. 

After several rounds of structural tests, the final shape is this umbrellar-shaped, inside, middle and outside three circular steel beams and 68 radial red pine beams formed the spoke arch architecture scheme.

The interior has 8 wooden posts and 3 diagonal wooden posts at the front end. Structurally, the indoor column-free space of 34.0mx14.5m and the outdoor cantilever of 3.7m are realized. 

Smoke-gray aluminum-magnesium-manganese shingles, ultra-white tempered glass, and the spruce ceiling with a small surface, the leaf-shaped exterior contour completes the true expression of the microscopic force.

According to the integrated functions and forms of the entrance platform, sales display and logistics office. The exhibition center has set up a space under the eve with a length of 11 meters, a single large-scale display space, a finance room, a storage room, a toilet for men and women, and several sales offices for logistics.

In the detailed design, the cavity of roof board and inclined beam, as well as the cavity of main ring beam are used to hide all pipelines including water, electricity and air conditioning.

Plan 

Elevations

Roof diagrams

Project facts

Project name: Tianjing Zarsion Exhibition Center

Architects: Ruf Architects

Location: Tianjin, China 

Size: 450m2

Date: 2020 

All images © Yijie Hu

All drawings © Ruf Architects

> via Ruf Architects