Chengdu, China
Inspired by the natural landscape of Chengdu’s prairies, The Panda Pavilions, designed by EID Architecture, are intended as a fusion of architecture and landscape.
Located at the Chengdu National Giant Panda Research Base, the Panda Pavilions take form in the primitive geometry of a circle.
The project was recently awarded with a 2020 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
China National Giant Panda Research and Breeding Center, the world’s leading research institute on panda preservation, is embarking on a significant campus expansion in a national forest park near outskirts of Chengdu.
Along with some new facilities, a group of four panda pavilions has been approved by the city park district administration to become the research lab to house and study the pandas’ behaviors and activities.
It also serves the community for educational and recreational purposes, while attracting millions of panda lovers annually to visit the campus.
The Panda Pavilions are devoted to foster a cross-disciplinary collaboration as a care center for the giant pandas.
The design is organized around four open-air circular courtyards which serve as an outdoor playground for the bears, while providing a continuous connection with nature.
Nestling in the wilderness, these panda houses embrace their natural surroundings, integrating themselves with the topography of the national park.
The Panda Pavilions are designed to create an immersive experience of exploration and discovery for the visitors.
They house the pandas’ indoor and outdoor activity spaces and living quarters, along with staff administrative offices and supporting facilities.
Also, the pavilions provide interactive exhibition spaces designated for panda research and preservation.
The design of the panda pavilions is a convergence of landscape, architecture, and land art. While the project provides a pedestrian-friendly navigation experience for visitors, it prioritizes an animal-friendly environment to minimize the alienation of ecology.
The pavilion facades feature pressure-treated cedar wood panels and cast-in-place concrete walls.
These buildings are equipped with water nozzles around the pavilions to create a fine mist for panda-friendly temperature and humidity.
Project: The Panda Pavilions
Architects: EID Architecture
Master Planning Consultants: Tianhua Planning Ltd.
Local Design Institute: Chengdu Architectural Design & Research Institute
Client: Chengdu Park Bureau/ Chengdu National Base of Giant Panda Research & Breeding
Photographer: SAN
