Put a ring on it

About

Living up to the sugges­ti­ve­ness of its name, the Loop of Wisdom embo­dies a time­less archi­tec­tural concept. Power­house Company’s design for a tech­no­logy museum and recep­tion center for a new neigh­bor­hood in Chengdu, China, is much more than an exuberant land­mark.

In addi­tion to its obvious aesthetic appeal and cultural program, the fluid struc­ture incor­po­rates a spec­ta­cular public space – an undu­la­ting rooftop trail. This addi­tion makes the Loop of Wisdom an acces­sible icon, rather than a remote beacon. It invites people to explore it and make it part of their regular walking or jogging routine.

Topography

During the site visit, the archi­tects noticed the natural undu­la­tion in the terrain, a very subtle and soft hill. Normally in Chinese deve­lo­p­ment these natural hills are leveled.

Power­house Company decided instead to use the topo­graphy as the basis for a unique design that would bring an organic soft­ness to the urban envi­ron­ment. By shaping a circular path that follows the topo­graphy, the two sepa­rate program­matic enti­ties are combined in one single struc­ture.

As the path rises up to make space for the program, it becomes a roof offe­ring stun­ning views over the new deve­lo­p­ment. The new buil­ding becomes a path and archi­tec­ture at the same time, while allo­wing nature to continue around, under and within the form of the struc­ture.

Above the track

Above the track, the rooftop surface is composed of custom alumi­nium tiles. 15,218 of these, each with its own unique profile and numeric code, form a seam­less skin for the serpen­tine shape.

The LED lights that illu­mi­nate the buil­ding at night and func­tional elements inclu­ding gutters and handrails are all carefully concealed from sight, resul­ting in the stream­lined profile that enhances the loop’s elegant simpli­city and flowing lines.

A bold new landmark

Located in the Tianfu New District of Chengdu in Sichuan, Unis Chip City is one of several deve­lo­p­ments sprin­ging up along the Tianfu Avenue. Situated next to this major artery, the Loop of Wisdom commands atten­tion with its flowing form and vibrant red color.

At night, LED lighting trans­forms it into a glowing sculp­ture. As the first completed buil­ding in the new deve­lo­p­ment, it acts as a symbolic land­mark for the future commu­nity and as a magnet for attrac­ting future resi­dents.