Space and Function improvement
Project located in the centre of Beijiao, Xianmo Flower Field is a civic park with flowers as the theme. Large areas of seasonal flowers are planted and bloomed beautiful throughout the year. However, due to the lack of shadings, there is no place for tourists to rest and stay, which have led to the extremely low utilization rate of the park. only around the evening people would gather in the park and most of the other time people would visit the park without stopping.Therefore, improving the service facilities have become the primary purpose in the design, in an attempt to improve the satiability of the park, extending the use time, and increasing the utilization rate of the Xianmo flower field.
We hope to provide residents with a sheltered space by placing two sets of bamboo-structured landscape pavilions. At the same time, it can not only hold small events, enrich the sightseeing experience, and view the waterfront. In turn, it would become a landscape landmarks with composite functions.
Integration of structure and form
The design of the bamboo art installation is derived from the excellent tensile and bending properties of bamboo itself, and the curved bamboo itself can naturally form a three-dimensional enclosure of the space, which could provide shading and shadows. It would, in turn, create the “grey space” which could not only provide shelters form the sun and rain but also enhance ventilation and heat dissipation in the subtropical climate. Based on such a basic concept, we first got a “shell-shaped” basic model.
the Flower Pavilion and Embrace Pavilion use the basic logic of the “shell-shaped” basic model. The spiral line is used as the lofting control line to form the rhythm of the Flower Pavilion’s structure which could create a spatial hierarchy that full of changes. Embrace Pavilion consists of two groups of reverse shell-like shape connected end to end to form a closed loop. Three-dimensional two-way curved surfaces are cantilevered on the structure to achieve a span of 12m. Through the scale change of the shape, a large-scale stage space is created and a small-scale waterfront viewing space is formed and it created a dramatic spatial twist at the transition between the two.
Tectonic materials and details
The bamboo structure material adoped a curved cantilevered bamboo to form a shell-like shape, which is combined with traditional bamboo weaving skills, and the roof cladding is woven with bamboo strips which covered with the Palm Tree Bark. Because the roof is translucent, the light and shadow under the roof show the beauty of bamboo structure.
The application of Palm Tree Bark ,which is inspired by straw rain cape coat, is a major breakthrough in the structure of bamboo pavilion.As a traditional material for making clothes, palm tree bark is an ecological material with excellent weather resistance and easy to access. The use of palm tree bark further improves the weather resistance of the bamboo pavilion. The palm roof made of similar modules also creates a sense of rhythm similar to the traditional tile roof. At the same time, we also replaced the original hemp rope with coir rope to achieve better weather resistance as the material for tying the bamboo.
Palm tree bark uses the traditional fixing method of coir rope stitching. Due to the small area of a single piece of palm tree bark , it is very labor-intensive if we used the single-piece single-piece fixing method as a traditional tile roof fixing method. For this reason, we have adopted a modular prefabrication method. First, all palm tree bark are prefabricated and sewn into modular units of 1m*1m, and then these units are connected and trimmed to form the roof.
Surprising gains
After we proposed using palm tree bark as the roofing material for bamboo pavilion, the construction manager found that this material is everywhere in his hometown in Hubei, so he cooperated with the local village government to turn this matter into a anti-poverty project. The villagers who stayed in the village participated in the production and processing of palm tree bark and coir ropes. With the material processing at the place of origin, it has driven the cause of poverty alleviation in local villages. A bamboo pavilion thousands of miles away can produce such social benefits in the local area and contribute to the revitalization of the village. It is indeed beyond our expectations.
After the completion
After the completion of the bamboo pavilion, everyone rushed to take a group photo in the bamboo pavilion. Various activities were carried out under the bamboo pavilion: viewing and resting, parent-child entertainment, fitness, taking pictures, therefore, the flower field of Xianmo gathered more popularity. It also held activities like Concerts, festivals and other events. Everyone defines and interprets the story and scene in the space, making it possible to narrow the relationship between each other.
Architecture offices involved in the design:Atelier cnS；School of Architecture, SouthChina University of Technology
Project location:Beijiao Town,Shunde District, Foshan City
Design year:2020
Year Built:2021
more by Atelier cnS
Huanglong Waterfront Bamboo Pavilion
Historical Park of Fort Remains
Public Toilets in Zuzhai Village
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in architecture and design, I have extensive knowledge and firsthand experience in creating innovative and functional spaces. With a deep understanding of the concepts and principles used in the Space and Function Improvement Project located in the center of Beijiao, Xianmo Flower Field, I can provide you with valuable insights.
The main issue faced by the park was the lack of shading and resting areas for visitors, resulting in a low utilization rate. To address this, the design team focused on improving the service facilities to enhance the park's stability, extend its use time, and increase its overall utilization rate.
To provide residents with sheltered spaces, two sets of bamboo-structured landscape pavilions were strategically placed within the park. These pavilions not only serve as resting areas but also act as venues for small events, enriching the overall sightseeing experience. Additionally, the pavilions offer beautiful views of the waterfront and serve as landscape landmarks with multiple functions.
The design of the bamboo art installation was inspired by the excellent tensile and bending properties of bamboo itself. The naturally curved bamboo formed a three-dimensional enclosure of space, providing shading, shadows, and ventilation. This created a "grey space" that offers shelter from the sun and rain, as well as enhanced heat dissipation in the subtropical climate.
The Flower Pavilion and Embrace Pavilion, part of the project, were designed based on a "shell-shaped" basic model. The spiral line was used as the lofting control line to create a spatial hierarchy and rhythm within the pavilions' structures, resulting in a visually dynamic and ever-changing space. The Embrace Pavilion, consisting of two groups of reverse shell-like shapes connected end to end, formed a closed loop and featured three-dimensional two-way curved surfaces cantilevered on the structure, achieving a span of 12m. This design created both a large-scale stage space and a small-scale waterfront viewing space, providing a dramatic spatial twist at the transition between the two pavilions.
In terms of materials, the bamboo structure utilized curved cantilevered bamboo to form a shell-like shape. Traditional bamboo weaving skills were combined with this structure, and the roof cladding was woven with bamboo strips covered with Palm Tree Bark. The use of Palm Tree Bark, inspired by the straw rain cape coat, was a significant breakthrough in the bamboo pavilion's structure. Palm tree bark is an ecological material with excellent weather resistance, and using it as the roof cladding not only improved the pavilion's weather resistance but also created a rhythmic aesthetic similar to a traditional tile roof. Coir rope was used instead of hemp rope for better weather resistance in tying the bamboo together.
During the construction process, it was discovered that palm tree bark was readily available in Hubei, the construction manager's hometown. This led to a collaboration with the local village government, turning the production and processing of palm tree bark and coir ropes into an anti-poverty project. Villagers who remained in the village participated in the production, benefitting the local economy and contributing to poverty alleviation efforts. This unexpected result showcased the social benefits that can be derived from a project like the bamboo pavilion, impacting the local community's revitalization.
After the completion of the bamboo pavilion, it became a popular attraction within the Xianmo Flower Field. Visitors flocked to the pavilion for group photos, and various activities such as viewing, resting, parent-child entertainment, fitness, and photography took place under its shelter. The increased popularity of the flower field led to the organization of concerts, festivals, and other events. The space became a canvas for people to define and interpret their own stories, fostering connections and relationships among visitors.
The design team behind this remarkable project includes Atelier cnS and the School of Architecture at the South China University of Technology. The project, located in Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan City, was designed in 2020 and completed in 2021.
This Space and Function Improvement Project successfully transformed the Xianmo Flower Field into a vibrant and functional civic park, showcasing the power of innovative design to enhance user experiences and revitalize communities.
)