the china pavilion for expo milan 2015 by tsinghua university + studio link-arc

the china pavilion for expo milan 2015 by tsinghua university + studio link-arc
all images courtesy of studio link-arc

tsinghua university in collaboration with new york-based design firm studio link-arc have conceived ‘the china pavilion’ for the milan expo 2015 as a field of different spaces. hovering over the ‘field of hope’ on the ground floor, a floating cloud structure offers a distinctive undulating roof and shelters the cultural and exhibition programs beneath.

the project is based on the theme, ‘the land of hope’ and embodies this in the fluid-forming volume – derived by merging the skyline of the city on the north side with the shape of the landscape on its southern end. joining these two traditionally opposing elements seeks to foster a feeling of ‘hope’ that they can exist in harmony together.

view from west

the pavilion’s roof uses a timber frame that references a raised-beam system found in traditional chinese architecture, adapting it with modern construction technology. clad in shingled panels that mimic terra-cotta surfaces, they are reinterpreted as large bamboo components to reduce the overall weight and create a shaded space below.

view of multimedia installation

informed by china’s agrarian past, the ground plane is defined by a landscape of wheat, transitioning seamlessly into an expansive multimedia installation at the center. a matrix of LED stalks appear as if a part of this farming field, forming the main centerpiece of the exhibition.

detail of roof

the exhibition and cultural programs are experienced as a journey through the pavilion, beginning with an exterior waiting area and leading to the themed area with interactive installations from forty chinese provinces. from here, visitors are guided up a gently sloping public staircase to a view platform above the glittering LED matrix – and beyond to another multimedia room, featuring a short film. the sequence concludes with people stepping onto an open balcony above the bamboo roof that offers an expansive vista of the expo grounds.

view of model

model

concept diagram

structural diagram

longitudinal section

longitudinal section

aerial rendering

project info:

project name: china pavilion for expo milano 2015
award: first prize
client: china council for the promotion of international trade
organizer: expo milano 2015

architecture:
architect: tsinghua university & studio link-arc
chief architect: yichen lu (tsinghua university + studio link-arc)
associate in charge: kenneth namkung, qinwen cai (studio link-arc)
project team: shuning fan, hyunjoo lee, dongyul kim, alban denic , zach grzybowski (studio link-arc)
structural engineer: simpson gumpertz & heger
enclosure engineer: elite facade consultants + ATLV
MEP engineer: beijing qingshang environmental art & architectural design

exhibition, landscape, & interior design:
design director: dan su, yue zhang(academy of arts and design, tsinghua university)
chief designer: yi du (academy of arts and design, tsinghua university)
exhibition design: yanyang zhou, danqing shi (academy of arts and design, tsinghua university)
landscape design: xiaosheng cui ( academy of arts and design, tsinghua university)
interior design: jiansong wang (academy of arts and design, tsinghua university)
installation design: danqing shi, feng xian (academy of arts and design, tsinghua university)
light design: yi du (academy of arts and design, tsinghua university)
visual identity design: xin gu (academy of arts and design, tsinghua university)

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.