Origin | A service station on the edge of the ancient town
Chongqing Ciqikou, established during the Song Dynasty, is a millennium-old ancient town and a historically significant cultural street in China. It embodies rich Bayu culture, religious culture, Shaci culture, Hongyan culture, and folk culture, and was designated as a national AAAA-level tourist attraction in 2006. With its unique landscape of "one river, two streams, three mountains, and four streets," it has become a culturally rich and picturesque tourist destination, and is the largest ancient town in the main urban area of Chongqing, showcasing traditional Bayu residential architecture, customs, and traditions.
The site is located within the construction control zone of the Ciqikou historical cultural district, adjacent to the core protected area. To the north, it faces the Qing Shui Creek and Shaci Commercial Street; to the south, it connects to the East Gate Square; and on both the east and west sides, it borders the Ciqikou Bridge and the riverside ring road, forming a triangular plot facing Qing Shui Creek. The purpose of the station's construction is to provide tourism-related support facilities for the Ciqikou scenic area, including a tourist information service center, a youth volunteer station, rental shops, and public restrooms, addressing the severe shortage of public spaces in and around the ancient town. With the completion of the landscaping renovation of Mingtong Road, this area facing Qing Shui Creek also urgently requires quality upgrades to transform it into a scenic space for residents and tourists to pause and enjoy the view.
The core goal of the station design is to seek a balance between continuing traditional cultural context and connecting with contemporary environments in a unique historical setting like Ciqikou Ancient Town. It aims to create a serene refuge amidst the hustle and bustle, crafting an elegant yet simple space that retains creativity. In a site irregularly located next to an overpass and beside the clear water creek, the challenge lies in maximizing the site’s potential with minimal environmental disturbance. This involves skillfully responding to the surrounding landscape order and the texture of ancient town architecture using contemporary architectural language, all while fully respecting the historical context.
Interpretation | Clear Water Stream Bank, Functional Integration
The total area of the station is approximately 216.8 square meters, comprising an upper level and a suspended level. In terms of functional planning, we will designate the upper level for rental commercial purposes (to balance the investment and returns of the project) and as a tourist information service station. The service station will include indoor seating, charging stations, and vending machines, providing a range of essential public services and facilities that are currently lacking in the area.
We will also make use of the site's existing elevation changes to fully utilize the space beneath the platform, expanding it to around 100 square meters for public restrooms and a volunteer service station. The public restrooms will meet functional needs, while the volunteer service station will offer a space for volunteers to rest, interact, and receive training. Users will be able to experience the landscape of the entire site through large floor-to-ceiling windows and the outdoor platform. Additionally, the stairs will be located on the exterior of the building to better integrate the natural environment into the architectural space.
Concept | Origami floating, green shadow pavilion
As a small house within a historical context, how to maintain a harmonious coexistence with the site is the primary consideration for the designer. The building faces the Qing Shui Creek and the entrance plaza on the north and south sides, while the other two orientations preserve many well-growing camphor trees. Therefore, in terms of design strategy, the station uses the roof as a visual center, standing in the site with a combination of three basic rectangular blocks arranged in a staggered manner. This aims to naturally integrate with the surrounding green landscape while providing users with shaded and sheltered resting spaces. Accordingly, utilizing the terrain's elevation changes and landscape features, the preferred strategy is to set up hanging levels and visual corridors.
Connection | Corridor and Viewing Platform
In terms of form design, the visual corridor created by the enclosures of volumes at different scales serve as the core area of the entire building. The interaction between the corridor space and the suspended layer space creates a skylight courtyard, resulting in a tranquil and comfortable place that engages with light. Here, natural light and artificial light merge, creating nodes within the interior where people can pause and reflect. This not only enhances the recognition and interest of the gray space but also transforms it into a unique landscape resting area. Additionally, the layered elevated platform design on the building's exterior not only provides seating and outdoor activity spaces but also effectively addresses the heavy rainfall season in Chongqing, preventing flooding due to rising water levels. The design of the wooden platform resonates interestingly with the eaves, while the zigzag metal roof showcases rich variations of light and shadow from different angles. As people gradually approach, the interpretive process of the building becomes clearer, offering users a richly layered visual experience.
Structure | Upward Zigzag Roof
Through the analysis of the site texture, we hope the architecture can create a morphological relationship with the surrounding ancient town, while also introducing new techniques to the building's structure and color elements. This will allow the Station to form a new visual identity within the entire public square, ultimately welcoming citizens and visitors with an open stance. Considering that most users will be young volunteers, the design features a zigzag roof that symbolizes youth and vitality, resembling wings in flight. The roof extends outwards, reflecting the 'visibility' relationship between steel-wood and concrete structures. This approach not only creates a transparent atrium space but also allows the wind to flow naturally, addressing the site's need for openness. Meanwhile, the umbrella-shaped steel-wood structure creates a gray space that provides a resting area for the public. The overhanging eaves form a transitional space resembling a pavilion or corridor, shielding people from wind and rain and offering a semi-outdoor refuge for the crowds engaged in activities at the square, further supporting public life.
The main structural system of the building uses a glulam beam-column framework, while the deep eaves of the sloped roof are made of a matte black aluminum-magnesium-manganese metal system, combined with an umbrella-shaped variant design that aligns with traditional structural logic. The horizontal beams resist lateral forces and transfer vertical loads to the ground through the columns, resulting in a clear and straightforward structure. The upper wooden beam-column structure is exposed, combining with the carefully treated facade to showcase a light design approach and create a space that is minimally invasive, graceful, and in harmony with nature. In terms of material selection, the main structure features a wood color as the primary hue, contrasting visually with the elegant white washed stone walls, embodying elements of modern architecture.
Project Name: Ciqikou East Gate Tourist Service Station
Project Type: New Project
Design: Chongqing Yueji Architectural Design Office
Design year: 2022.02 - 2023.08
Completion Year: 2024.03
Lead Designers: Tian Qi, He Biao, Li Jun
Design Team: Lu Zexi, Zhang Qian, Li Kairui, Dan Chenghu, Liu Haibo (Structural), Wang Hongli (Wood Structure), Wang Weida (Wood Structure), Lin Hong (Water), Chen Wei (Electric), Zhang Yidan (Intern), Li Zhechun (Intern), Liu Tianyi (Intern), Wu Qiu (Intern)
Project location: Ciqikou Ancient Town East Gate, Shapingba District, Chongqing
Gross built area: 216.80㎡ (Upper Level 115.23㎡, Lower Level 101.57㎡)
Photo credit: PrismImage
Partner: Chongqing Hefang Urban Planning and Design Co., Ltd. (Construction Drawings), Liaoning Jinbaisheng Wood Structure Technology Co., Ltd.
Client: Chongqing Xuchen Industrial Development Group Co., Ltd.
Materials: Steel, Glulam, Glass, Water-Washed Stone