Taiyuan Zoo Entrance Building
Architect: Delugan Meissl Associated Architects
Location: Taiyuan City, China
Type: Entrance Building, Office
Year: 2019
Photographs: Toni Nachev
The following description is courtesy of the architects. The main aim of the proposed design for the new entrance building of the Taiyuan Zoo is to generate a fluent transition zone between the urban environment and the Zoo and to create a clear entrance gesture.
For us the Zoo is characterized by life which can be described by constant movement. The topic of movement and dynamic is present in the different elements of the design. As the visitor approaches the entrance through the serpentine like pathways he constantly changes the perspective while coming closer. On top of the artificial hill he finds himself on a plaza that is bordered by the necessary functions that are integrated into the landscape.
The Plaza is covered with a wide roof that is visible from far away and that marks the entrance clearly. The roof follows the ideas of dynamic and movement, in other words life. It consists of movable panels that are
influenced by the actual wind conditions. The appearance of the roof is constantly changing. This change also influences the play of light and shadow generating multiple atmospheres below the roof. The construction of the roof is inspired by the idea of creating zones of different densities. Together with the panels it creates a forest like feeling. The result is not only a pure transition zone but one that also can act as stage for different events or just invites you to take a short rest.
During night time the roof can also act as a screen for projections and light installations. Through its slight inclination it will be highly visible from the neighboring highway and will catch the interest of passing future visitors. Along the pathway to the entrance roof artificial, highly reflective animals accompany the way. They blend with the landscape during the day and are illuminated during the night.
Structure
The roof structure consists of two main parts, both designed in steel: the lower part serves as a green roof for auxiliary spaces of the zoo and will be fully insulated and cladded. The upper part will be highly visible, housing 5480 rotating panels which move in the wind.
Therefore the slenderness and careful detailing of the upper part is of priority. The top is designed as a spacetruss which is vertically supported on 101 columns, of which 10 are also providing horizontal support. The grid size in plan is about 1×1 meter, which results in a very dense but light structure.
The height of the space truss is 80 cm. The middle part as shown in previous diagrams is covered by glass of 2 x 6 mm thickness to protect the walkable area underneath. The rotating panels are mounted on a subsystem. (Bollinger+Grohmann)
Video
Project Details
- Category: Mixed Use, Office
- Address: Taiyuan, China
- Start of planning: 04/2016
- Start of construction: 09/2016
- Completion: 09/2019
- Gross floor area: 1.385 m²
- Project manager: Sebastian Brunke
- Project team: Michael Lohmann, Toni Nachev, Tom Peter-Hindelang, Tom Xia
Consultants
- Client: Municipality of Taiyuan, China
- Project Coordination: Yiju Ding
- Structural engineering: Bollinger+Grohmann
- Visualisation: Toni Nachev
