As a national key ecological function zone, Wencheng has a forest coverage rate of 72.3% and abundant tourism resources. This project, as a window to show the image of the town and the general situation of the town, integrates the functions of exhibition, reception, conference, tourism service, and distribution. The building abstracts the folded roof from the form of the local residential settlement and takes advantage of the mountains for cascading. It can not only communicate with the traditional architecture on the scale but also better match with the architectural language such as Chinese-style tiles, masonry walls, and wood imitation structures. The volume of the building is divided into parts, so that it will not be too abrupt in the mountains, forming a good harmony.
Under the large roof, with the diamond-shaped interspersed net frame system and the intertwined tree crown in the forest as the image, the tree crown group image between the forests is abstracted to a tensile architectural structure, which becomes the most expressive image feature of this case. The tree-like bracing structures under the eaves in this case stand out layer by layer, supporting the raised eaves, which has become the abstraction and simplification of the bucket arch archetype. The entire building is like an artificial forest in the forest. It perfectly blends with the forested hillside behind the project, matching the positioning of the “forest oxygen bar parlor”.
Wencheng Forest Oxygen Bar Town Parlor is a design attempt to find the perfect fit between architecture and environment. The building was born of the environment, which is the reason for its unique characteristics. By exploring traditional materials and construction techniques, the local, new, and old technologies are perfectly matched. This thinking pattern and design strategy are worth continuing. In this way, the architecture can be constructed in the most appropriate way in the natural environment with the evolving four seasons and the endless humanist traditions.
Status: Built
Location: Wenzhou, CN
Firm Role: Designer
Additional Credits: Curtain Wall Consultant: Zhejiang Wulin Architectural Decoration Group Co.
Landscape Consultant: Li Shangyang
Interior Design: Hangzhou ShuiDingJi Design Office
Photo Credits to Yao Li