As a benchmark for Longfor’s over 100 Paradise Walk malls, Chongqing Beicheng Paradise Walk has been revitalized into a dynamic hub that blends commercial energy with urban identity, restoring its relevance after two decades and seamlessly integrating leisure, retail, dining, entertainment, and social spaces through architecture renewal.
With the design derived from Chongqing’s iconic three-dimensional urban landscape, the façade depicts the city’s unique character through the interplay of glass and stone, showcasing the dynamic resonance between commercial space and urban lotion. The result creates a public space that strengthens civic identity and a sense of shared ownership for Chongqing residents.
Embracing the concept of a ‘Symphony of Glass and Stone’, the design moves away from the original enclosed, monotonous facades to establish clear focal points and coherent flow between interior and exterior spaces. The staggered, layered box-like forms with interspersed stone elements draw inspiration from the city’s iconic mountain landscape, while the play of light and shadows on the glass reflect the branching patterns of its converging rivers. This renewed architecture introduces varied design themes, making the mall instantly recognizable and memorable.
The revitalization focuses on three key entrances along the west street front, with South Plaza serving as the primary urban gateway. This interface is anchored by the ‘Wonder Box’ - a striking composition of stacked, translucent glass volumes that acts as a container for the dynamic experiences favored by the city’s new generation. The jewel-like façade hints at the mix of dining, culture and social energy held within, while a state-of-the-art naked eye 3D screen wraps the corner of the structure, immersing visitors in Chongqing’s high-tech, cyber city identity. By retaining the existing structure, the design also reinterpreted the development’s iconic canopy into a new modern silhouette that will continue to find root in the city’s collective memory.
The North Plaza is framed by a soaring glass canopy, reconstructed into a vertically layered space. This in vites sheltered outdoor areas while allowing abundant natural light to filter through. Using the project’s elevation differences, a sunken plaza is introduced at the entrance; surrounded by preserved ancient banyan trees, it forms a lush pocket courtyard providing a moment of respite in the bustling city centre. A three-dimensional interface is formed along the central plaza through glass box elements paired with curved forms. An open, vibrant space is created through the reorganization of building volumes, with various outdoor dining opportunities and room for event programs and activities.
On the street, stone and glass curtain wall elements intersect to soften the façade’s original sense of enclosure, where unified color tones blur the boundaries between pedestrian walkways and the mall entrance, creating an accessible, brand-visible environment. Establishing a new model for renewing commercial properties, Beicheng Paradise Walk demonstrates what architectural ambition and civic thinking can deliver together.