Qingdao, China
CLOU architects and TOA Landscape Architecture, commissioned by Vanke, design a fourth-floor atrium and create an iconic social space at the newly opened Future City Mall in Qingdao, China.
Located in Qingdao’s northern district, Vanke Future City is a brand-new shopping and leisure destination devoted to mingling aesthetics, creativity, and social experiences, hoping to bring fresh vitality to Qingdao’s old town and its surroundings.
CLOU Architects have designed a two-storey red cube structure as the focal point, surrounded by a jungle of plants and runny water.
Reminiscent of the primitive and mysterious scenes in Rousseau’s paintings, the vibrant colours, light, and shade invoke an imaginative and dreamlike atmosphere.
The architects’ choice of bright red as a primary colour creates a striking visual impression grabbing people’s attention.
Like the flowers and animals that populate Rosseau’s mysterious paintings, the firm created a dazzling contrast between the colourful subject, detailed background, and a pleasing sense of illusion.
A circular bridge on the first floor connects the central cube to its surrounding areas with varying staircases.
Tropical greenery, seating, water features, and staircases create human-scale details, enhancing the walking experience and enticing customers to linger and explore.
This alluring, outdoor feeling provides its visitors with a place where their imaginations can roam freely.
A variety of paths and steps create fun and interactive scenes for socializing, exploring, and taking photos.
The entire atrium serves as a public space for the local community to relax and enjoy a perfect venue for joyful community events.
With the unique spatial experience created for Qingdao Future City, the design team hopes to activate the social and artistic potential of the commercial space by creating a fun, intimate, and pleasurable place for creating lasting memories.
Project: Qingdao Future City
Architects: CLOU Architects
Design Team: Jan Clostermann, Lin Li, Xinhui Ding, Rentian Liu, Jingyao Cheng, Qiao Ding, and Christopher Biggin
Landscape Architects: TOA Landscape Architecture
MEP: Promising Engineering and Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd
Client: Vanke
Photographers: Runzi Zhu
