Xi’an Greenhouse

Xi’an Greenhouse
Courtesy of Plasma Studio

XI’AN GREENHOUSE

Plasma Studio

CATEGORY
Exhibition Center

LOCATION
Xi'an, China

ARCHITECTS
Plasma Studio

AREA
4000

YEAR
2011

Text description provided by architect.

Conceived as a precious crystal, semi-submerged in splendid isolation, reached by boat across the lake followed by a short walk from the shore, the greenhouse for the Xi’an Horticultural Expo blends into the hillside.

Xi’an Greenhouse
Courtesy of Plasma Studio
Xi’an Greenhouse
Courtesy of Plasma Studio

Visitors access the building through a prolonged cut, literally scooped up from the ground, emerging into a light-filled reception space.

From here the visitor passes along a tessellated mesh of paths to three different climatic zones with corresponding plant environments.

Xi’an Greenhouse
Courtesy of Plasma Studio
Xi’an Greenhouse
Courtesy of Plasma Studio

The greenhouse has a horseshoe plan, creating a loop that changes radically in section to accommodate a series of unique planting and spatial conditions.

With the interior and exterior ground planes gradually shifting in relation to each other, the visitor experiences a sequence of visual enclosures alternating with long vistas out and across.

Xi’an Greenhouse
Courtesy of Plasma Studio
Xi’an Greenhouse
Courtesy of Plasma Studio

The horseshoe shape also generates an interior open-air courtyard, making it the natural centre of the building and creating a three-dimensional web of interior and exterior circulation.


Xi’an Greenhouse
Render
Xi’an Greenhouse
Render


Xi’an Greenhouse
Section

Xi’an Greenhouse
Floor Plan