bjarke ingels group plans AI CITY in china to advance future of artificial intelligence

terminus group, a chinese technology firm, has unveiled a design by bjarke ingels group for its future headquarters in chongqing, china. named ‘AI CITY’, the development will be dedicated to terminus’ aspirations in the fields of artificial intelligence of things (AIoT), robotics, networking, and big data. the first phase of the hi-tech campus, dubbed ‘cloud valley’, takes inspiration from the region’s undulating landscape.

image by lucianr / BIG

‘we have over the recent years worked with several of the world’s leading technology companies,’ says bjarke ingels, founder & creative director of BIG-bjarke ingels group. ‘we are thrilled to bring our experience to chongqing and together with terminus create AI CITY, the first landmark project in the hi-tech zone to become a new center of innovation for china. AI CITY is envisioned as a city where people, technology and nature thrive together — with spaces designed for all types of life: human life, plant life, animal life and even artificial life.’

image by lucianr / BIG

the proposal is conceived as two adjacent plots that mimic each other’s opposites. appearing as a striking landmark, the ‘mountain’ gives shelter to a protected network of courtyards filled with inviting public functions. next door, the ‘valley’ offers the largest publicly accessible green rooftops in china for open-air events. below the roofscape, the building opens up to the surrounding public to invite visitors into this new neighborhood.

image by lucianr / BIG

AI CITY seeks to provide terminus, and the world’s leading tech companies, with a place to advance the future of artificial intelligence and robotics, and build the foundations of a new sustainable development. the design removes barriers between nature and architecture to create a porous urban fabric. this landscape is populated with generous green courtyards, which will be programmed to host specific public activities. meanwhile, sports events, art exhibitions, and product fairs will be hosted in the technological park spread between the buildings.

image by BIG

the team behind the project adds that the barriers between human and artificial intelligence will also be removed. newly created spaces including AI exhibition galleries, markets, and cafés will be found under the same roof as professionals working on the development of future technologies. in addition, the traffic strategy focuses on a flexible transition towards a future re-balance of nature with development. consequently, e-bikes, robotic vehicles, and self driving cars will feature throughout the development.

image by BIG

BIG says that the roofscape is one of the project’s most important components. in one instance, the canopy descends to the central courtyard, providing access to the lush garden. elsewhere, the roof lifts in two corners to create entryways from the inside. the roofscape also allows for an abundance of nature to co-exist with the office programs, encouraging a closer relationship among humans, nature, climate, and technology. at night, the green roof turns into the largest digital display in china.

image by BIG

image by BIG

image by lucianr / BIG

image by BIG

image by lucianr / BIG

image by BIG

image by lucianr / BIG

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project info:

name: AI CITY
location: chongqing, china
program: commercial
status: in progress
size: 135,000 sqm / 1,453,128 sqf
type: commission
client: terminus group

BIG-bjarke ingels group project team —
partners-in-charge: bjarke ingels, jakob lange, ole elkjær larsen
project leaders: per bo madsen, nanna gyldeholm møller, dominic james black, gabrielle nadeau, dora jiabao lin, enea michelesio
team: biqin li, yara rahme, natchaluck radomsittipat, ipek akin, linnea lujak, laura wätte, peter mortensen, sergiu calacean, mattia di carlo, høgni laksafoss, jan magasanik, eddie can, annette jensen, mussa algasra, marcela dominika rydalska, laurent de carniere, cheng-huang lin, nandi lu, henrik jacobsen, seda yildiz, lucas coelho netto, marah wagner, vladislav saprunenko, jean-sébastien pagnon, dimitrie grigorescu, alexander matthias jacobson, kamila abbiazova, katrine juul, ella murphy, tore banke, cristian teodor fratila, frederic lucien engasser, ulla hornsyld, paul johann kohlhaussen, eric li, erik kreider, karolina lepa-stewart, tristan harvey, miles treacy, timo harboe nielsen, andy coward, qingfeng li, milan moldenhawer, mamak mazaheri, daniel ferrara bilesky, jesper petersen

collaborators —
LDI: huiting
green building consultant: CMCU
facade consultant: forster
structure consultant: BIG E