Xingcheng Exhibition Garden / Archermit

Architects: Archermit
Area: 99 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Arch-Exist Photography
Principal Architect: Youcai Pan
Design Director: Zhe Yang (Partner)
Technical Director: Renzhen Chen (Partner)
Design Team: Rui Yang, Qinmei Hu, Yuanjun Gou, Yuting Huang, Yudan Luo
Architectural Construction Drawing Team: Shanghai Landscaping Construction Co., Ltd.
Landscape Design Team: School of Landscape Architecture, Sichuan Agricultural University (Dajiang Sun), Sichuan Tianyi Ecological Landscaping Group Co., Ltd.
Regional Culture Consultant: Zenghui Wang
Planting Design: Chengdu Manshidi Horticultural Co., Ltd.
Smart Systems: Chengdu Smart City Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Guidance Vi: Chengdu Tianfu Greenway Cultural Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Writing: Youcai Pan, Xiangxin Ge
Construction Agent: Chengdu Jinguancheng Floral and Horticultural Co., Ltd.
Construction: Shanghai Landscaping Construction Co., Ltd.
Exhibitor: Chengdu Xingcheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.
Sponsors: Chengdu Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu Xingcheng Residential Real Estate Investment Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu Tianfu Greenway Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd., Chengdu Xingcheng Cultural Industry Development Investment Co., Ltd., Chengdu Tianfu Rural Development Group Co., Ltd.
City: Chengdu
Country: China

The Xingcheng Exhibition Garden, designed by Archermit, is based on the cultural traditions of Western Sichuan Gardens, reflecting Chengdu’s interpretation of nature and living spaces. The main structure, inspired by bamboo forests and lotus ponds, resembles a “lotus leaf pavilion,” with bamboo poles symbolizing lotus leaf veins. Its curved roof, echoing Western Sichuan folk houses, serves as a dramatic rainwater collector. The sunken interior floor allows visitors a view above the pond’s surface, blending water and sky. Initially planned as a bamboo structure, time and budget constraints led to the use of a steel frame with bamboo accents. The design embodies the spiritual essence of Western Sichuan gardens, aiming to evoke cultural connections.

The design of the Xingcheng Exhibition Garden draws from the Western Sichuan Garden tradition, rooted in the cultural heritage of the region. It embodies the local inhabitants’ understanding of nature, humanity, and living spaces, reflecting the artistic and cultural sentiments of Chengdu’s people and their concept of “poetic dwelling.”

The main building of the exhibition adheres to a “garden-first” principle, with architecture serving as a scenic feature within the landscape. The goal was to create a transparent, light, and elegant structure that would become the centerpiece of the exhibition garden. Bamboo forests and lotus ponds, common and iconic elements of Western Sichuan gardens, play a central role in the design.

The exhibition hall is inspired by the concept of a “lotus leaf pavilion,” with the building resembling a large lotus leaf floating in a pool. Below, a cluster of bamboo spreads outward, with the bamboo poles symbolizing the veins of the leaf. The structure features a light, curved roof, reflecting the delicate architectural elements of Western Sichuan folk houses, such as sloping roofs, small green tiles, long eaves, and thin edges, all presented in a dramatic and abstract form. To heighten the visual effect, the center of the lotus leaf was hollowed out, transforming the entire roof into a large rainwater collector, serving as both a functional and artistic response to the Expo’s theme.

The exhibition hall’s indoor floor is recessed by 0.6 meters, so when visitors sit, their line of sight is just above the pond’s surface. This creates a seamless view where the water and sky appear to merge, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenic reflections. The design integrates forests, fields, water, and houses, blending indoor and outdoor spaces harmoniously.

Since 2018, the Archermit team has been engaged in numerous bamboo-related architectural projects, conducting in-depth research on bamboo materials and culture. The original plan for the “Bamboo Lotus” building aimed to use a hybrid structure combining laminated and raw bamboo. However, due to time and budget constraints, the team opted for a steel structure, complemented by raw bamboo elements as decorative features.

Western Sichuan gardens serve not only as spaces for leisure and sightseeing but also hold profound spiritual and commemorative significance. The architects hope that this small building, inspired by lotus and bamboo, will help visitors appreciate its symbolic meaning and inner spirit. It aims to evoke a shared cultural sensibility unique to the Chinese people.