This project is a small program (comprising meeting rooms, restaurant, a small exhibition room…) on a quite big land on Chongming island (Shanghai).

 

The concept was to create a large unifying roof under which all the functions required by the program have been installed. Each function is represented by a simple “box” spread on the site. According to the size of the function, the volume of the box extends more or less from the roof. Between each box, the façade encompassing all these functions is completely glazed to give the impression of being outside.

 

 

The landscape and the building are treated with the same language with irregular stripes in different directions. Each stripe of land is going up or down creating angles which makes a hilly aspect. The roof becomes an elevated part of the landscape using the same angled shape.  The voids created in the middle part of the roof allow extending the garden inside the building.

 

 

The roof and the boxes are opposed by their volume.  The angled roof has a complicated shape and seems to float above the site whereas the boxes are very pure and simple. The use of different materials emphasizes this opposition. The roof is in Corten steel whereas the boxes use stone to give them a strong and solid aspect.

 

 

This big unifying roof gives the impression of a more spacious building encompassing the building and the garden. It’s the combination of architecture and landscape where visitors can enjoy a special interior design visually linked to the landscape.