CRANE PAVILION AT CRANE NATURE PRESERVE | GBBN
Wuhan, China
Description provided by GBBN. In Wuhan, one of the largest inland cities near China’s eastern coast, a spiritual sanctuary rises near a wetlands preserve.
Across Asia, the red-crowned crane has long been associated with longevity, immortality, and spiritual transcendence. To help China’s Tai Kang Group bring a legend to life, we started with the simple form of a paper origami crane. Delicate creases are articulated in the hand-polished concrete exterior, cast with precision to hold glass panels that will ultimately enclose the space.
An opening in the folds gives the small, intimate space an expansive view of surrounding wetlands and a place to watch cranes take flight during funeral ceremonies. A spiral stair in the café leads to a meditation platform beneath a skylight, reinforcing the sense of flight in a tranquil setting.
Architectural Design
Tai Kang Group, one of the largest private Chinese insurance companies, is bringing a spiritual sanctuary and memorial burial park to QianNing, a suburban area outside of the city of Wuhan.
The 4,305 sf Crane Pavilion, perched on a hilltop overlooking the reserve, silently communicates with nature, as a meeting place between the burial site and reserve. A continuous folded plate, reminiscent of the simple folded form of a paper origami crane (QianZhiHe), is created to integrate public parking, a reception/café space, an open platform, crane living spaces, caretaker dorms, public bathrooms, and storage rooms in various elevation levels.
Delicate creases are articulated in the cast-in-place white concrete. A hand-polished exterior protective finish was also applied. By connecting with nature in this tranquil setting, the light-filled spaces and expressive architecture create an atmosphere of respect for the deceased and allow those who mourn them to find inner peace, strength, and comfort.
Project Details
Project name: Crane Pavilion at Crane Nature Preserve
Architect’s Firm: GBBN
Website: www.gbbn.com
Contact e-mail: Jennifer Sebranek, jsebranek@gbbn.com
Project location: Qianning, Hubei Province, China
Completion Year: 2018
Area: 2,000 SF
Photo credits: Yao Li
Photographer’s website: www.yaolistudio.net/
