Project
Qingyun Valley Tourist Center

Nomination 
Best Project of Public Space

About the project
This project is located at the entrance of Qingyun Valley tourist area. The commission demands an environmental friendly and iconic building containing reception space, a gift shop, a restaurant, restrooms, and an outdoor theater.
In recent years, the most common model of tourist centers in China is a large building on a large, empty square, which leads to long and boring walking experience, and makes a huge impact on the natural environment.
Instead of the “large building + large square” model, we move the site to the pond and brake the programs into a cluster of small volumes “floating” on a large horizontal slab, which is elevated from the water by slanted stainless-steel columns. Then, the volumes “float” upward or “sink” down according to the degrees of openness of their programs.
The result is not only an abstract articulation of the context of local villages in the mountain area, but also a great illustration of the artistic mood in traditional Chinese literati culture.

Location
Yuntai Mountain, Henan Province, China

Project created in
2018

More project images
http://domain-architects.com/project/16

Applicant and authors of the project
Domain Architects is a Shanghai-based studio led by Xiaomeng Xu. Our practice strives to reform the spatial experience with innovative site strategy.
We consider user experience as the core of all designs, and believe every site has its potential to generate unique spatial experience. By carefully rethinking conventional models, we keep going back to the original nature of sites and programs to reinvent the logic and quality of spaces.

Other participants
Leading Partner: Xiaomeng Xu