We were selected as one of the finalists for design competition of the International Conference Centre/ the State GuestHouse, invited by the City of Dalian, China.
The site is located in a scenic district of Pancui Dao, located in the eastern part of the city. Surrounded by a range of mountains on the north and the west, and facing the Yellow Sea on the south and the east, this scenic site has hosted many governmental and summit conferences since 1950’s, and conference halls, hotels and guesthouses exist throughout the area.
The program required a plan for overall landscape design, conference hall with capacity of 1000 people, banquet hall, international conference hall, guesthouse and the State Guest- House in the southern part of the district.
We set up a plan by geometrically placing 18 meter-wide linear patterns running eastwest direction throughout the site, and landscape components such as water, greenery, passageway, stairs, car-parking, checkpoints, sand beach, piers, follies etc. are woven in between. We made groups of related facilities and located them in three separate areas, to make the best use of the natural landscape, and to thoroughly activate the spacious site of 15 ha.
Conference facility, standing like a plateau on the beach, is facing the most beautiful view of the sea along the east zone of the northern beach. It is buried underground because conference space requires artificial lighting, and the beautiful view of the sea and Pancui Dao should not be distracted. Ceremonial plaza located on the ground floor, covered with the lightweight grand roof.
Thalasso-therapy facility is located on the sand beach at the southern edge, merging into the natural landscape. The State GuestHouse, located at the center of the east zone, is bridge-like structure connecting the two roofs of conference facility and thalasso-therapy facility. It is designed to ensure security and exclusiveness, yet standing in harmony with the natural landscape.