curvy ridged organic skin roofs a restaurant by BEHIVE architects in china

timber + aluminum frame contours organic form in Jiaozi avenue

BEHIVE Architects composed a timber-roofed restaurant on the grand boulevard of Jiaozi in Chengdu, China. The avenue stretches two kilometers from east to west, with the restaurant standing in an open site facing the busy street on the south and the high-rise buildings on the north. Contouring an organic form covered in an aluminum shell, the curvy ridged structure creates a relaxing and approachable setting on the busy street.

The restaurant consists of a double-story dining area on the south and a concentrated space on the north. The street transits to the south entry through a reflective pool mirroring the structured roof. The east facade reminisces the traditional pitched roof of Sichuan residences, while the west side responds to the context in a rectangle profile. The twisted roof bridges the two sides and acts as a dynamic transition in between. The sprawling surfaces of the double-curved roof stretch along a curved ridge in the middle and hover over the dining space. The concept blends vernacular architectural features with contemporary parametric design in Chengdu’s cityscape.

the dynamic ridged roof floating on site | all images ©xf photography unless stated otherwise

floating roof ascends in over 4 meters held by steel columns

Steel columns and timber roof structure the project by BEHIVE, while laminated timber beams adapt to the double-curved surfaces and extend from inside to outside in diagonally crossing grids. The continuous pattern of structure unifies the interior and exterior spaces. To enhance the stability of the structure, each steel column is connected to two center points on the grid with cross-shaped transfer beams, resulting in a branch-like structure on the second floor. The south facade rises an over 4-meter cantilever, where the glass curtain wall recedes. Four inclined columns are added to the foundation of the front columns to ensure that the roof floats upon the pool without any support on the outside while shaping a linear void space along the curtain wall.

the wave-like formation on the grand boulevard of Jiaozi in Chengdu

organic spatial design flows in + out of the volume

The exterior design achieves maximal transparency to enhance the continuity of the timber structure from inside to outside. The glass curtain wall on the south and north follows the crossing grid of the timber beams resulting in a continuous undulated profile. The aluminum shell of honeycomb panels adapts to the form of a roof splitting into multiple cascading layers. Translucent acrylic panels and LED lights are used at the splits between the layers rendering the roof with a soft glow at night. The fluid-slanted roof from the original structure extends to the interior maximizing the original spatial concept.

the restaurant’s curved ridge

the organic roof overhangs the reflective pool

the eastern view of the pitched roof shows off the undulated profile of the beams

the dining area peaks through the multi-layered aluminum roof | image ©shangru chen

the curved sunken form stands in the open plaza

the timber structure is covered by the aluminum shell | image ©chuan he

the interior dining space overlooks the pool through the undulated glass opening | image ©chuan he

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the timber structure is exposed through the zigzag glass curtain wall | image ©xf photography

timber beams form a crossing pattern | image ©xf photography

the fluid-slanted roof from the original structure extends to the interior | image ©chuan he

joint between branching columns and timber beams | image ©shangru chen

the linear patterns of the timber interior | image ©chuan he

wood and timber define the interior design | image ©chuan he

project info:

name: Timber-Roofed Restaurant on Jiaozi Avenue
designer: BEHIVE Architects

location: Chengdu, China

lead architects: Darcy Chang, Rachael Ouyang

design team: Darcy Chang, Rachael Ouyang, Yingbo Li, Jingwen Shangguan, Yijun Chen, Sam Sun

interior design: HDC Design

interior designer: Jiajun Tang, Rene Liu

landscape design: BEHIVE Architects – HDC Design

architecture construction drawing: SADI

timber structure design and construction: Shanghai SKF Arch Technology Ltd.

structure, MEP, curtain wall consultant: SADI

construction contractor: Chengdu Beite construction installation engineering Co., Ltd.

curved aluminum honeycomb construction contractor: Shanghai Shenfei new curtain wall engineering Co., Ltd.

curtain wall construction contractor: Zhongzhi Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd.

photography: xf-photography – Shangru Chen – Chuan He

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom