Architects: Atelier cnS, School of Architecture, South China University of Technology
Area: 480 m²
Year: 2021
Photographs: Siming Wu, cnS
Lead Architects: Guanqiu Zhong, Hairui Lin, Wenhao Zhang
Lead Designers: Guanqiu Zhong, Gang Song, Zhiyuan Zhu
Design Team: Hairui Lin, Wenxuan Huang, Li Yang, Longyuan Lu, Zhanchong Deng, Hang Zhao
Lead Teacher: Guanqiu Zhong
Student Team: Wenhao Zhang, Wenchu Zhang, Yuhao Huang, Zhixian Tan, Xinyue Gu, Longyuan Lu
Client: Government of Beijiao Town, Foshan City
City: Foshan
Country: China
Urban Park Micro Renovation, designed by Atelier cnS and the School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, transformed Xianmo Flower Field Landscape Park in Beijiao through bamboo and steel art installations from 2019 to 2021. Starting with the Changqi and Huanglong Waterfront Bamboo Corridors, the design evolved into the Flower Pavilion and Embrace Pavilion, advancing bamboo construction techniques from version 1.0 to 4.0. The pavilions, inspired by bamboo’s tensile properties, use shell-like forms to create shaded spaces, enhancing ventilation and usability in the subtropical climate. Xianmo Flower Field, a flower-themed civic park, lacked shaded rest areas, resulting in low utilization. The bamboo pavilions provided shelter, supported events, and integrated with the park’s environment, extending its usability and creating iconic landmarks. Materials like palm tree bark and coir rope, prefabricated into modular roofing, improved durability and ecological impact, while their use also supported a poverty alleviation project in Hubei by engaging local villagers in material production. The Breeze Pavilion, a steel installation with wind chimes, added interactivity and aesthetic appeal, further activating the space. Following completion, the bamboo pavilions became hubs for rest, recreation, and community events, fostering social interaction and transforming the park into a vibrant communal space.
Starting in June 2019, cn°S successfully completed the Changqi Bamboo Corridor and Huanglong Waterfront Bamboo Corridor projects. In September 2020, commissioned by the Beijiao Town Government, cn°S developed two art installations for the Xianmo Flower Field Landscape Park to enhance its environment. Progressing from the Changqi Bamboo Corridor to the Huanglong Waterfront Bamboo Corridor, and subsequently to the Flower Pavilion and Embrace Pavilion within Xianmo Flower Field Landscape Park, cn°S advanced the bamboo structure’s design and construction, evolving it from version 1.0 to 4.0 in terms of form logic and construction details.
Integration of Structure and Form
The bamboo art installation’s design draws from the exceptional tensile and bending properties of bamboo, with its curved forms naturally creating three-dimensional enclosures. These enclosures provide shading and shadows, forming “gray spaces” that offer shelter from the sun and rain while improving ventilation and heat dissipation in the subtropical climate. This concept served as the foundation for developing a “shell-shaped” base model. In the 1.0 iteration of the Changqi Bamboo Corridor, an array of four shell-like forms was replicated to create shaded areas along the court, the village’s most active communal space. The 2.0 version, the Huanglong Waterfront Bamboo Corridor, further developed this idea by deforming and reconnecting five shell-like forms in two directions, resulting in a shelter that served both the village square and a rest area on the river-viewing deck. With the 3.0 and 4.0 iterations, represented by the Flower Pavilion and Embrace Pavilion in Xianmo Flower Field, the use of the shell-like shape was enriched. These versions introduced greater flexibility, enabling diverse spatial configurations and expanding the possibilities for different functional uses of the enclosed spaces.
Space and Function Improvement
Situated in the heart of Beijiao, Xianmo Flower Field is a civic park centered around a floral theme, with large expanses of seasonal flowers blooming throughout the year. Despite its visual appeal, the park lacks shaded areas, leaving visitors without spaces to rest or linger, resulting in extremely low utilization during most of the day. Visitors typically only gather in the park during the evening, with most choosing to pass through without stopping at other times. Addressing this deficiency became the primary focus of the design, aiming to enhance the park’s facilities, increase its usability, extend active hours, and boost overall visitor engagement in the Xianmo Flower Field.
The project aims to provide residents with sheltered spaces through the installation of two bamboo-structured landscape pavilions. These structures are designed to host small events, enrich the sightseeing experience, and provide scenic views of the waterfront. Over time, they are intended to function as multifunctional landscape landmarks. As standalone architectural elements, the bamboo pavilions offer a rich spatial experience and iconic visual presence. At the same time, they integrate seamlessly with the surrounding environment, creating restful spaces for visitors to enjoy the flowers, particularly during the blooming season.
As the 3.0 and 4.0 iterations of the bamboo pavilion series, the Flower Pavilion and Embrace Pavilion build upon the “shell-like” design logic established in the Changqi Bamboo Corridor and Huanglong Waterfront Bamboo Corridor. The Flower Pavilion employs a spiral line as the lofting control line, generating a rhythmic structure that introduces a dynamic spatial hierarchy. The Embrace Pavilion features two groups of reversed shell-like forms connected end to end, creating a closed loop. This structure integrates three-dimensional, two-way curved surfaces cantilevered to span 12 meters. The variation in scale within the design creates a dramatic spatial transition, forming both a large-scale stage area and a smaller waterfront viewing space, enhancing functionality and visual impact.
Tectonic Materials and Details
The bamboo structures maintain the construction logic of the series, utilizing curved cantilevered bamboo to create shell-like forms. These are complemented by traditional bamboo weaving techniques, with the roof cladding made from woven bamboo strips covered in palm tree bark. The translucent roof allows light and shadow to interact, highlighting the aesthetic qualities of the bamboo structure. The use of palm tree bark, inspired by traditional straw rain capes, marks a significant breakthrough in the bamboo pavilion’s design.
Traditionally used for making clothing, palm tree bark is valued for its weather resistance and rain resistance. However, with the introduction of modern materials like plastic raincoats, the traditional straw rain cape and its raw material, palm tree bark, have largely fallen out of use. Drawing on previous experience in constructing bamboo pavilions, the designers selected palm tree bark as an ecological, weather-resistant, and readily available material for the pavilion’s outer layer. This choice not only improved the pavilion’s weather resistance but also introduced a rhythmic aesthetic to the palm-covered roof, reminiscent of traditional tiled roofs. Furthermore, the original hemp rope was replaced with coir rope to enhance the durability and weather resistance of the bamboo structure’s ties.
Palm tree bark is secured using traditional coir rope stitching techniques. Since each piece of bark covers only a small area, relying on the single-piece fixing method typical of traditional tile roofs would be highly labor-intensive. To address this, a modular prefabrication approach was adopted. The palm tree bark was first prefabricated and stitched into 1m x 1m modular units, which were then connected and trimmed to assemble the roof efficiently.
Surprising Gains
When palm tree bark was proposed as the roofing material for the bamboo pavilion, construction manager Fang Chun discovered that it was abundant in his hometown in Hubei. He collaborated with the local village government to transform this into an anti-poverty initiative. Villagers who remained in the area became involved in the production and processing of palm tree bark and coir ropes. By sourcing and processing the material locally, the project supported poverty alleviation and contributed to the revitalization of the village. The unexpected social benefits generated by a bamboo pavilion built thousands of miles away far exceeded initial expectations.
The Breeze Pavilion
As part of the Xianmo Flower Field project, a steel art installation named the Breeze Pavilion was introduced to further activate the space. The pavilion follows a simple T-shaped composition, utilizing an elliptical interface that rotates around an axis to create a channel-like space. Positioned along the main pathway leading to the flower field, it offers visitors the experience of dynamic changes in light and shadow and a spatial twist as they pass through, leaving a strong visual and spatial impression. The inclusion of wind chimes adds an interactive element, naturally attracting visitors as they traverse the pavilion. Many are drawn to engage with the wind chimes, creating a harmonious blend of movement and sound that enhances the sensory experience.
After the Completion
Once the bamboo pavilion was completed, it quickly became a focal point for visitors, who flocked to take group photos within its space. The pavilion hosted a variety of activities, including resting, sightseeing, parent-child entertainment, fitness, and photography, significantly boosting the popularity of Xianmo Flower Field. It also served as the venue for events such as the 2021 Beijiao Town cultural and sports activities launching ceremony, among others. The pavilion allowed visitors to define and interpret their own stories and interactions within the space, fostering closer connections and creating a sense of community.
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Project Location
Address: Midea Street, Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
