TEDA (Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area) is a gateway opening to the outside world, located at the heartland of the Bohai Economic Rim, in the core area of Tianjin Binhai New Area. As one of the first national bases for China’s advanced industrial and financial reform and innovation, the landmark monument aimed to represent the importance of TEDA´s 30 years of existence, as a liveable ecological environment and a prosperous and harmonious platform of China’s new economy.
Five world-renowned teams were invited to produce a design for a 60m new landmark monument under the theme “Beautiful TEDA”, which promoted a beautiful natural ecology and comfortable living environments for the area.
The design by Rafael de La-Hoz, under the title “A Cut between heaven and earth”, is driven by an effort to analyze the process of abstraction and reinterpretation of the site. Instead of locating the object on the road junction, the new location enables a more balanced dialogue with the existing buildings to provide a balanced space in-between. The monument examines the essential link between sustainability and beauty and can be further visually interpreted using estimates of the fixation distance.
It is a singular project, unique for this site. The mirror which appears at the top is designed to reflect a ray of light specifically visible on December 6th to commemorate the birth of TEDA. During the night, two bodies, material and virtual, materialize to create the complete figure: the Immaterial Gateway.
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