united units architects (UUA) has introduced the ‘fissure of the earth’ project, transforming a redundant quarry located in qingdao city, in china, into a new ecological public garden and visitor center. with the environmental protection initiatives promoted by the local government, and supported through investment from private capital, the architects have initiated operations to restore the area, where the soil and vegetation have been severely damaged due to the intensive mining over the years. 

a fissure in the earth qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre 1

all images by weiqi jin 

 

 

the design by UUA generates a ‘fissure of the earth’, using a sharp and powerful architectural language to remind people of the ecological damage that was previously caused in the area. as the ‘fissure’ starts from the north, the building rises from the ground and ascends to the second floor with the form extending southwards. the structure looks like it’s embedded into the landscape, and the continuous roofline blurs the boundary between the ground and the floors, creating a sense of dynamic movement. the horizontal, elevated mass of the buildings, as well as its design details, echo both the vast wilderness of its contextual setting and the strata of the ground below.

a fissure in the earth qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre 2

 

 

a semi-open central courtyard defines the heart of the complex, allowing daily activities to unravel in a rational and intuitive layout. the building’s program can accommodate a wide range of needs and events, from catering and shopping to exhibition display and property management. the outdoor passages, steps, and terraces interspersed between the built spaces create a rich walking experience, stimulating not only the interaction between tourists and the building but also providing multiple perspectives for viewing the garden. in summary, the project forms a poetic composition of harmony between a restored landscape and iconic architecture.

a fissure in the earth qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre 3

a fissure in the earth qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre 4

a fissure in the earth qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre 7

a fissure in the earth qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre 8

a fissure in the earth qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre 11

a fissure in the earth qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre 12

 

 

project info:

 

name: qiseshan quarry garden visitor centre
architecture office: united units architects (UUA)
design team: yongzheng li, qizhi li , teng jiang, falu wang, yanfeng lyu, liye chen, wei wang
location: qingdao, shandong, china
area: 1,700 sqm

 

 

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.

 

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom