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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. River Heights Pavilion in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China by People’s Architecture OfficeAugust 6th, 2013 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: People’s Architecture Office The River Heights Pavilion is situated on the outskirts of Taiyuan along the edge of its famous Fen River. As the capital of Shanxi province, Taiyuan is an example of a second tier Chinese city developing at break neck speed. The River Heights Pavilion is built on a typical blank slate site, yet counters the trend of low density housing developments. It is an urban project located in the middle of suburbia.  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office
 Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office Within this empty context, the urban environment is most effectively rendered within the building’s interior, as spaces are organized to afford unique relationships between various activities. For example, imagine standing in the lobby watching a performance, beyond which is a lounging couple in the courtyard, while above, office workers leave their desks to join a party in the adjoining roof deck.  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office The design of the River Heights Pavilion consists of linear blocks of varying lengths that are replicated and arranged to fit the boundaries of the site. Each block houses a unique programmatic element, such as exhibition, lounge, and office. In form, the blocks alternate between single and double story heights, while interiors alternate between cool and warm materials and finishes.  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office This organization provides two completely different spatial experiences. Looking down the length of an individual block, one views the depth of a unified space extending uninterrupted to the exterior landscape. In contrast, turning 90 degrees, one’s view penetrates diagonally through discrete layers of shallow spaces that reveal various activities juxtaposed horizontally and vertically. Furthermore, there is a stacking of views through the interior, exterior, and interior and exterior again. The landscape design is an undulating extension of these linear blocks, each grassy strip separated by corten steel.  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office  Image Courtesy © People’s Architecture Office
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Tags: China, Shanxi Province, Taiyuan Category: Pavilion |
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