Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Kunming Expo Park
Kunming Expo Park
Kunming, China
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
View Original
Add To Collection
Add to Collection
Other Projects by VOICE ARCHITECTURE LAB
Kunming Expo Park
Kunming, China
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2022
SIZE
25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft
BUDGET
Undisclosed
VAL's New Work | Born from Nature, Honoring Nature, Viewing "Scenery" Within the "Scenery"
In 1999, the World Horticultural Exposition with the theme "Man and Nature – Towards a New Century" successfully took place in Kunming, making the Expo a source of pride for every resident of Kunming! It allowed Yunnan to reach out to the world and introduced Yunnan to the global stage.
Over the following 20 years, facing the challenge of "post-Expo," Kunming Expo Park aimed to diversify its tourism offerings through landscape enhancements and achieve sustainable development, thereby promoting the overall urban regeneration.
In 2016, Overseas Chinese Town Group took charge of the Expo Park, with principles of energy conservation, carbon reduction, and respect for nature, landscape and spatial enhancement took center stage. VAL collaborated with SWA in this landscape enhancement project. SWA was responsible for reorganizing the planning of the 6-square-kilometer Kunming Expo Area and detailed landscape planning and design of the core 1-square-kilometer area. VAL was responsible for the architectural and interior design of Blocks 2 and 3.
The design goal was to intertwine function and landscape, reshape circulation and function, enhance the sense of place, diminish the presence of the buildings themselves, turning them into viewing platforms within a green, modest landscape. Users can stand within the "scenery" to view the "scenery." The design team integrated space with the environment, aiming to strengthen the harmony and symbiosis between people and nature.
The landscape enhancement project of Blocks 2 and 3 of the Expo Park, jointly designed by VAL and SWA, has been completed. Located within the Kunming Expo Park in Yunnan Province, adjacent to Gate 1 of the Expo Park and the north side of the Expo Lake, it belongs to the gateway area of the Expo. The site has the Park Avenue and the Expo Memory and Celebration Plaza area to the north, while the south side faces the Expo Lake and Panlongzhai area. To the west side lies the Gateway Plaza, which is a gateway commercial complex area.
With the theme of "Harmony Between Man and Nature," the overall planning of the Expo Park after landscape enhancement responds cohesively. While preserving the original cultural values of the Expo, it provides a contemporary cultural landscape and venue, aiming to stimulate emotional and rational exploration among visitors.
Design Concept – Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water
The Exhibition Center, as the gateway building at the entrance, embodies the poetic spirit of the Expo Park landscape. Through its folded glass curtain walls, the external walls of the Exhibition Center extend the natural scenery of the Expo Park infinitely. When the building reflects in the water, people can wander between the scenery and its reflection, immersing themselves in this ethereal and surreal mirrored image where architecture engages in dialogue with nature.
The Exhibition Center is divided into two courtyards, inside and outside. Strolling outdoors, one can appreciate the pure vocabulary of the architecture, with light permeating from within. Stepping inside, visitors can enjoy 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape or encircle the inner courtyard, experiencing a 720-degree immersive view, offering a multidimensional perception of the scenery.
The Exhibition Center serves not only as an observatory but also as a new landscape itself, inviting internal immersion and external dialogue with distant views.
Earth-Sheltered Architecture – Buildings Growing in Nature
By incorporating earth-sheltered architecture due to the site elevation differences along Park Avenue and the waterfront, the design team links grand terraces and walkways, concealing the building's mass within the garden. This integration allows the architecture to blend seamlessly with the natural environment of the Expo Park and its surroundings, minimizing environmental impact, pollution, energy consumption, carbon emissions, and enhancing ecosystem stability and sustainability. Natural elements bring more greenery and vitality to the buildings, while flowing sunlight and air conditions contribute favorably to low-carbon energy efficiency.
Through reshaping circulation and spatial scale, the design team creates a natural space that harmonizes with the environment, providing a dynamic and varied spatial experience. As people enter the building, they experience a visual enjoyment of changing landscapes and a three-dimensional natural experience of interweaving space and light.
Reshaping Circulation – Transforming Site Elevation into Experience
The design team's greatest challenge and opportunity lie in the large site elevation differences between Park Avenue and Expo Lake, obstructed sightlines, underutilized high-value lakeside areas, poor waterfront relationships, and low waterfront accessibility. While the architectural design scope is within Blocks 2 and 3, the design and planning need to consider the overall space, circulation, and other functional relationships.
From the western Expo Park gateway entrance to the eastern entrance, approximately 400 meters in length, the design team added entrances every 60-80 meters to enrich garden pathways. Simultaneously, waterfront steps are added to enhance pedestrian experiences and waterfront accessibility, interweaving visual and circulation spaces between Park Avenue and lakeside areas, maximizing space utilization within limited spatial scales.
People can walk freely and explore without set path, transitioning from landscape to buildings. Multiple paths intertwine, connect, and merge, creating a unique and enjoyable experience, transitioning gradually from the forest to the building. The architecture, landscape, and nature are seamlessly integrated, offering a delightful sense of spatial experience.
Integration and Symbiosis, Honoring Nature
VAL and SWA minimize the traces of artificial structures, hoping to blend buildings into a "landscape" within nature. In this landscape enhancement project of the Expo Park, the design team integrates the undulating natural terrain into the architectural space, weakening the architectural presence and maintaining the continuity of the surrounding natural environment. By offering diverse walking experiences, the design achieves communication, scale perception, and deeper integration with the natural environment, elevating the relationship between people and nature.
Project Location: Kunming, Yunnan, China
Client: Kunming Expo New Area Development and Construction Co., Ltd.
Design Period: 2019-2022
Project Type: Cultural, Commercial, Urban Regeneration
Architectural and Interior Design: VAL (Voice Architecture Lab)
Lead Designer: Yu-Chieh Chiang
Design Team: Frank Chiang, Tessa Wang, Yang Zhang, Shan Lou, Bin Yan, Kathy Zhang
Landscape Design: SWA
Collaborative Design Partner: Jizhunfangzhong
Facade Consultant: Maijun
Lighting Consultant: Top Design
Photography: Songkai Liu
In 1999, the World Horticultural Exposition with the theme "Man and Nature – Towards a New Century" successfully took place in Kunming, making the Expo a source of pride for every resident of Kunming! It allowed Yunnan to reach out to the world and introduced Yunnan to the global stage.
Over the following 20 years, facing the challenge of "post-Expo," Kunming Expo Park aimed to diversify its tourism offerings through landscape enhancements and achieve sustainable development, thereby promoting the overall urban regeneration.
In 2016, Overseas Chinese Town Group took charge of the Expo Park, with principles of energy conservation, carbon reduction, and respect for nature, landscape and spatial enhancement took center stage. VAL collaborated with SWA in this landscape enhancement project. SWA was responsible for reorganizing the planning of the 6-square-kilometer Kunming Expo Area and detailed landscape planning and design of the core 1-square-kilometer area. VAL was responsible for the architectural and interior design of Blocks 2 and 3.
The design goal was to intertwine function and landscape, reshape circulation and function, enhance the sense of place, diminish the presence of the buildings themselves, turning them into viewing platforms within a green, modest landscape. Users can stand within the "scenery" to view the "scenery." The design team integrated space with the environment, aiming to strengthen the harmony and symbiosis between people and nature.
The landscape enhancement project of Blocks 2 and 3 of the Expo Park, jointly designed by VAL and SWA, has been completed. Located within the Kunming Expo Park in Yunnan Province, adjacent to Gate 1 of the Expo Park and the north side of the Expo Lake, it belongs to the gateway area of the Expo. The site has the Park Avenue and the Expo Memory and Celebration Plaza area to the north, while the south side faces the Expo Lake and Panlongzhai area. To the west side lies the Gateway Plaza, which is a gateway commercial complex area.
With the theme of "Harmony Between Man and Nature," the overall planning of the Expo Park after landscape enhancement responds cohesively. While preserving the original cultural values of the Expo, it provides a contemporary cultural landscape and venue, aiming to stimulate emotional and rational exploration among visitors.
Design Concept – Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water
The Exhibition Center, as the gateway building at the entrance, embodies the poetic spirit of the Expo Park landscape. Through its folded glass curtain walls, the external walls of the Exhibition Center extend the natural scenery of the Expo Park infinitely. When the building reflects in the water, people can wander between the scenery and its reflection, immersing themselves in this ethereal and surreal mirrored image where architecture engages in dialogue with nature.
The Exhibition Center is divided into two courtyards, inside and outside. Strolling outdoors, one can appreciate the pure vocabulary of the architecture, with light permeating from within. Stepping inside, visitors can enjoy 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape or encircle the inner courtyard, experiencing a 720-degree immersive view, offering a multidimensional perception of the scenery.
The Exhibition Center serves not only as an observatory but also as a new landscape itself, inviting internal immersion and external dialogue with distant views.
Earth-Sheltered Architecture – Buildings Growing in Nature
By incorporating earth-sheltered architecture due to the site elevation differences along Park Avenue and the waterfront, the design team links grand terraces and walkways, concealing the building's mass within the garden. This integration allows the architecture to blend seamlessly with the natural environment of the Expo Park and its surroundings, minimizing environmental impact, pollution, energy consumption, carbon emissions, and enhancing ecosystem stability and sustainability. Natural elements bring more greenery and vitality to the buildings, while flowing sunlight and air conditions contribute favorably to low-carbon energy efficiency.
Through reshaping circulation and spatial scale, the design team creates a natural space that harmonizes with the environment, providing a dynamic and varied spatial experience. As people enter the building, they experience a visual enjoyment of changing landscapes and a three-dimensional natural experience of interweaving space and light.
Reshaping Circulation – Transforming Site Elevation into Experience
The design team's greatest challenge and opportunity lie in the large site elevation differences between Park Avenue and Expo Lake, obstructed sightlines, underutilized high-value lakeside areas, poor waterfront relationships, and low waterfront accessibility. While the architectural design scope is within Blocks 2 and 3, the design and planning need to consider the overall space, circulation, and other functional relationships.
From the western Expo Park gateway entrance to the eastern entrance, approximately 400 meters in length, the design team added entrances every 60-80 meters to enrich garden pathways. Simultaneously, waterfront steps are added to enhance pedestrian experiences and waterfront accessibility, interweaving visual and circulation spaces between Park Avenue and lakeside areas, maximizing space utilization within limited spatial scales.
People can walk freely and explore without set path, transitioning from landscape to buildings. Multiple paths intertwine, connect, and merge, creating a unique and enjoyable experience, transitioning gradually from the forest to the building. The architecture, landscape, and nature are seamlessly integrated, offering a delightful sense of spatial experience.
Integration and Symbiosis, Honoring Nature
VAL and SWA minimize the traces of artificial structures, hoping to blend buildings into a "landscape" within nature. In this landscape enhancement project of the Expo Park, the design team integrates the undulating natural terrain into the architectural space, weakening the architectural presence and maintaining the continuity of the surrounding natural environment. By offering diverse walking experiences, the design achieves communication, scale perception, and deeper integration with the natural environment, elevating the relationship between people and nature.
Project Location: Kunming, Yunnan, China
Client: Kunming Expo New Area Development and Construction Co., Ltd.
Design Period: 2019-2022
Project Type: Cultural, Commercial, Urban Regeneration
Architectural and Interior Design: VAL (Voice Architecture Lab)
Lead Designer: Yu-Chieh Chiang
Design Team: Frank Chiang, Tessa Wang, Yang Zhang, Shan Lou, Bin Yan, Kathy Zhang
Landscape Design: SWA
Collaborative Design Partner: Jizhunfangzhong
Facade Consultant: Maijun
Lighting Consultant: Top Design
Photography: Songkai Liu
Product Spec Sheet
Were your products used?
Join as a manufacturer to add your products.