the lotus building by studio505 blooms in wujin, china

the lotus building by studio505 blooms in wujin, china
image © john gollings

blooming out of an artificial lake in wujin, china, is ‘the lotus building’ whose name references the floral shape that it takes on. conceived as an addition to an existing double-storey subterranean municipal facility, the cultural and civic landmark is home to departments of the city’s planning bureau, with newly developed  exhibition halls, meeting rooms and conference centers integrated into its programme.

approach towards the large petal ribs that protect the architecture
image © john gollings

‘the lotus building’ has been envisioned by studio505 as an inhabited sculptural work, in which visitors enter from below into a vaulted, cathedral-like interior space that offers a colorful and bright atmosphere — making it an uplifting volume rain or shine. this is partly a result of the graded colour scheme found on the petal ribs, that exist as a deep hue only at the edge of the structure, diminishing into lighter and airier tones within. in addition, white, beige and stainless steel hexagon mosaic tiles have been hand laid to cover both internal and external surfaces, creating a seamless and continuous volume.

by night the lotus is colorfully illuminated on the lake that it sits on
image © john gollings

situated adjacent to wujin’s 3.5 hectare people’s park, ‘the lotus building’ not only reflects the importance of nature in its sense of aesthetic, but also in its architectural approach to environmental sustainability. this is evidenced through the 2500 geothermal piles that are positioned underneath the base of the man-made lake, whereby the australian firm utilizes the body of water as a means of pre-cooling (in the summer) and pre-warming (in the winter) the establishment below ground level. the property is also naturally ventilated and employs evaporative cooling from the surrounding pool’s surface to drive a thermal chimney within the main flower pod.

a illuminated lighting system is programmed to offer a sequence of color changing combinations
image © john gollings

already distinctive in its presence, by night ‘the lotus building’ is further enhanced, illuminated by a lighting system that is devised to hold a series of changing color combinations for 20 seconds; before slowly transitioning — over a period of 10 seconds — to the next scheme. in its entirety, the volume stands as a revelation of space, setting a new standard of architectural ambition in the region.

view of the transitioning color schemes
images © john gollings

the vaulted cathedral-like interior
image © john gollings

view of the tapered bud-like volumes
images © john gollings

meeting room
image © john gollings

‘the lotus building’ stands as a landmark building in wujin
image © john gollings

aerial view
image © john gollings

section
image courtesy of studio505

project info:

architect: studio505
client: wujin district people’s government
cost: $12 million AUD
completion date: 2013
photography: john gollings