AI PARK, the pilot zone of Terminus Group’s AI CITY, is an exciting project designed by XING DESIGN Studio. Terminus Group, a global leading AI smart service provider, is devoted to high quality products focused on AI cities, sustainable development, and robotics.

AI PARK, as the prologue of AI CITY, is an experimental base for city experiences, Research and Development testing, and human-robot interactions.

 “Chips” Inserted into the Earth

AI PARK is located by Fengming Lake in Chongqing Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone. It consists of a set of chip-like metal walls, which are inserted into the undulating terrain.

These walls integrate robot ramps, hardware equipment, servers, shafts, outlets, and supporting structures. Labs are distributed in between the walls.

These set of metal walls follow the terrain, pointing perpendicularly to the water bank. Courtyards and laboratories, connecting and scattered among the walls, have open views towards the water.

 “Chips” Inserted into the Earth elaborates the mission of Terminus, which focuses on AIoT (Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things) and the smart system of regulating and controlling the urban space.

The idea is turning into reality.

TACOS (Terminus AI CITY Operating System), being tested and developed in the AI park, is the OS of AI CITY. It also builds the digital twin of AI PARK, which is iterated and evolving simultaneously.

Smart space relies on the smart software and hardware industry, the evolution of traditional industries like engineering, and even disciplines as architecture and social management. We, as architects, are also involved.

AI PARK is progressive, experimental and “incomplete”. It is flexible and able to be modified and expanded to meet future demands.

A Journey with robots

While humans walking upright leads to stairs in buildings, the way robots move also shapes the architectural space.。

At present, the Terminus robots are based on the wheeled axle chassis. Thus, AI PARK is implemented with ramps to ensure that all levels are accessible for robots.

At the entrance of AI PARK, there is a charging station for robots, where various types of robots are on standby. Led by robots, visitors walk through a corridor to arrive at an enclosed courtyard space, a completely different world. After that, they can further unfold the adventure in the AI PARK accompanied by robots.

A future between architecture, machines and robots

In 1923, Le Corbusier wrote " A house is a machine for living in" to challenge the conventional architectural ethics. Yet the relationship between machine and architecture is far more profound than a kind of "formal style" or "aesthetic preference".。

Architecture is the unceasing agglomeration of technology.

In the future, architecture is probably shaped by both human beings and machines. Besides being a co-user of space, robots can have impact in a greater way: to be a part of the architecture.

Nowadays, it is hard to imagine new buildings without HVAC, elevators, water supply, EL&ELV or network coverage. In future, technologies like smart space OS, Robots, robotized building components will be as common as stone & brick, reinforced concrete, Low-e glass, and escalators.

The story of architecture, machines, and humans has just begun.