Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, China
Ma Yansong of MAD Architects designs a new multi-purpose public space for Aranya — one of China’s most vibrant seaside arts and culture communities.
The building is designed to host a variety of functions, with a press conference room, small theater, and exhibition space.
The structure is surrounded by a sculpted landscape imagined as a “white stone garden.”
When viewed from a distance, the building appears as a “cloud floating in the forest” with a polished, reflective form activated by the changing light, sky, and landscape.
The simple, pure aesthetic of the building is achieved through a façade of hyperbolic white stained glass, creating a seemingly floating form when viewed from afar.
At its entrance, a pool reflects both the building and the clouds above, blurring the boundary between architecture and nature, and interior and exterior.
The building’s perceived “cloud” form is made possible through a series of monumental structural overhangs, with the largest reaching 30 meters in length.
As a result of these overhangs, the solid white mass of the building appears to float over a predominately glazed ground floor, when viewed either inside or outside.
The “cloud’s” massing is balanced and suspended from the building’s central core which provides support for the entire structure and makes its column-free interior space possible.
The building’s primary internal space, the multi-purpose room, extends skyward through a swirling ceiling.
Above the spaces, a series of skylights allow ample natural light into the interior to enhance the building’s energy efficiency.
The building’s open spaces and movable walls offer a high degree of spatial flexibility to meet the needs of exhibitions, theatrical performances, conferences, and a variety of other functions.
Surrounding the building’s exterior, a low circular wall forms the boundary of a tranquil landscape detached from reality.
This cosmic theme continues within the garden, where a series of white rocks and undulating greenery evoke the imagery of floating planets dotted across the universe.
Project: Aranya “Cloud Center”
Architects: MAD architects
Lead Architect: Ma Yansong
Principal Partners in Charge : Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, and Yosuke Hayano
Design Team : Yin Jianfeng, Liu Hailun, Chen Hungpin, Edgar Navarrete, Pittayapa Suriyapee, Luis Torres, Chen Yi-en, Zhang Chao, and Li Gang
Associate in Charge: Kin Li
Client : Shijiazhuang Pharma Group, Aranya