Atelier Ping Jiang | EID Arch has unveiled the architectural competition winning scheme for Wenling Innovation Transformation Service Center of Around Longmen Lake Science and Innovation Belt. The international competition for the concept design previously received submissions from over 40 design agencies both domestically and abroad. Atelier Ping Jiang | EID Arch, together with five other shortlisted design firms from China, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other countries, participated in the international competition and emerged as the winner, ultimately being selected for the implementation.

The project is situated along the central axis of innovation and vitality in the Around Longmen Lake Science and Innovation Belt, playing a crucial role in providing sci-tech services and serving as a regional hub. The total building area is approximately 108,000 square meters, encompassing functions such as innovation transformation services, an exhibition center, headquarters offices, a boutique hotel, and supporting facilities. As one of the most significant public service platforms for citizens in the area, key considerations for the architects included: how to continue Wenling's cultural legacy and create an iconic urban landmark; how to connect the natural ecological landscapes such as the mountains, sea, and lake wetlands with the building, fostering an integration of architecture and nature; and how to create diverse, multi-functional spaces that encourage community interaction and a sense of belonging. These are the custom challenges the architects aimed to address for this unique site.

A Multifunctional Public Service Platform for Citizens

The Around Longmen Lake Science and Innovation Belt is positioned as an advanced manufacturing and innovation-driven district. The project will feature innovation transformation services and other public government platforms, providing a range of services including finance, law, patents, and trade to support the Around Longmen Lake Science and Innovation Belt and the entire coastal new city. Unlike traditional public service facilities, the newly built Innovation Transformation Service Center will utilize public spaces as a key element, with accompanying spaces such as a technology talent reception area and community-oriented spaces. This will create a diverse, multifunctional environment for a variety of experiences. At the same time, as a critical site in the Intelligent Waterfront node, the project will offer headquarters office space and boutique urban hotels for medium- to large-sized enterprises, establishing a dynamic and open coastal hub, and fostering a sustainable community with a diverse mix of functions.

Integration of Architecture and Natural Landscape

Wenling is characterized by its mountainous and hilly terrain, with the East China Sea to the east. The design concept deeply integrates the natural and cultural features of Wenling, drawing inspiration from the region's rich maritime and stone cultures. The design abstracts and refines these elements, responding to the form of stacked stones with a sculptural approach, while the pathways wind upward like mountain trails, creating panoramic sky terraces at various levels. The design seamlessly merges natural resources such as the ocean and wetlands with the architecture, forming a landscape where architecture and nature are interwoven in dynamic interaction.

The project is situated between the mountains and water, adjacent to the Longmen Lake Wetland Park. The architectural layout continues the existing urban fabric, with the main building acting as a gateway alongside the first-phase incubation park. The design incorporates axial lines and corridors to connect with surrounding plots, maximizing views and integrating the landscape with adjacent public green spaces, defining a key urban node for the entire district. The tower volumes are staggered to create viewing terraces, reducing the visual mass of the building while drawing the natural landscape into the interior, establishing a multi-dimensional landscape oasis. The stepped platforms link the building volumes downward to the podium, with chamfered edges at human scale, while the tower volumes are slanted to create a more pleasant spatial experience.

Unlike traditional high-density tower and podium configurations, this design employs an integrated approach to architecture and landscape, creating and connecting multiple levels of open space. The hotel and panoramic restaurant are located in the upper part of the tower, offering views of the East China Sea, Longmen Lake, and the wetland, providing guests with a relaxed and enjoyable seaside experience. The office areas are interspersed with multiple shared courtyards, fostering outdoor spaces for communication and interaction. The lower office levels can be accessed via vertical circulation and outdoor stairways that lead to rooftop gardens, where the natural landscape extends upward into the high-rise zones, blending seamlessly with the built environment and creating a harmonious coexistence between architecture, the site, and nature. 

A Vibrant Space for Community Connection

In this project, the design centers around human experience, creating spaces that foster connection and interaction. The architects have opened up the building's interfaces to both the city and the wetland park. The ground floor is elevated, creating a seamless connection between outdoor areas, courtyards, gardens, and public squares, allowing pedestrian flow and views to permeate the park’s interior. The rooftop citizen park, with its gentle slopes, links to the public green space below, encouraging people to gather, relax, and engage in recreational activities. An efficient pedestrian system opens the site to the city, while also extending towards nature, allowing residents to stroll through the landscape, immersed in the beauty of lake and mountain views. This creates a vibrant, interconnected open space, bringing energy and life to the community.

The design also takes into account the trend toward customized office spaces, allowing for flexibility in future building modifications. The interiors feature adaptable spaces equipped with multifunctional facilities to accommodate a variety of events, including conferences, exhibitions, and more. In the future, this multi-level, green urban living room will redefine Wenling’s cultural and natural heritage. Through this innovative, eco-friendly architectural approach, the project aims to create a sustainable public space that encourages active citizen participation, strengthening their sense of belonging and identity with the city's development.