On the edge of a steep precipice in Longxing, Chongqing, Chinese architectural firm CHALLENGE DESIGN has completed a striking building that looks like a natural extension of the landscape. Defined by its sharp geometric form, the YULIN Artistic Center makes the most of its clifftop location with walls of glass that embrace stunning panoramic views. Not only were the majority of the building components prefabricated in a factory in Yancheng to mitigate the challenges of building on steep terrain, but the architects also used glue laminated timber to reduce the weight of construction.
The YULIN Artistic Center consists of two main volumes stacked at an angle to one another and optimally placed for unobstructed views of the landscape. The line between the indoors and outdoors is continually blurred, from the massive wall of glass that runs along the side of the building to the interior spaces that are arranged to face the outdoors. The building consists of an exhibition center, a time-lapse gallery, a spherical video hall and an infinity pool on the cliff’s edge. Visitors access the site via a 30-meter glass elevator and a bridge on the northeast side of the site.
“The building topping the paramount cliff reflects the minimalist design concept by following the natural landscape,” the architects said. “By making full use of the dramatic height drop and ingenious angles, the scenery is presented to the full extent. Like a natural part of the mount itself, the Artistic Center can be seen from a mile away, resembling a crane of legend standing on a rock, opening its wings and showing its grandeur and magnificence.”
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The building’s sculptural appeal is reinforced with the glulam lattice structure exposed in the interior as well as the facade that’s clad in gray aluminum panels laid out in a diamond-shaped pattern. The prefabricated components of the building were created in just three weeks. No tower crane was used to assemble the building onsite.
Photos by Prism Images and Arch-Exist
