Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre

Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
the continuous roofline. Image © Weiqi Jin

QISESHAN QUARRY GARDEN VISITOR CENTRE

United Units Architects

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Yongzheng Li, Qizhi Li, teng Jiang

DESIGN TEAM
Teng Jiang, Tim Mason, Falu Wang, Liang Deng, Liye Chen, Yanfeng Lyu, Wei Wang

ENGINEERING
Qingdao Haichuan Architectural Design Co.ltd

CONSTRUCTION
Jiangsu Rulin Construction Engineering Co.ltd

CLIENT
Qingdao Baocui Garden Development Co.ltd

LANDSCAPE
Qingdao Jingge Landscape Design Co.ltd

PHOTOGRAPHS
Weiqi Jin

AREA
1700 m²

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Qingdao, China

CATEGORY
Visitor Center

BACKGROUND: REGENERATION OF A REDUNDANT QUARRY

The Qiseshan Quarry Garden and Visitor Centre are located in a redundant quarry that ceased operations in 2017.

Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
a passage in the west. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
the terraces with different heights. Image © Weiqi Jin

As a result of intensive mining, the soil and vegetation in this area has been severely damaged over the years.

With the environmental protection initiatives promoted by the local government and supported through investment from private capital, the subsequent ecological restoration has been on-going for several years.

Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
the hidden building service platform. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
steps to the upper terrace. Image © Weiqi Jin

As a result the previous damaged land is now covered with greeneries, with a new ecological public garden to open in 2020.

CONCEPT: 'A FISSURE OF THE EARTH'

In order to make reference the site’s previous incarnation, the design concept of the Visitor Centre takes the meaning of ‘a fissure of the earth’, and uses a sharp and powerful architectural language to remind people of the ecological damage that has happened here.

Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
atrium. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
the mushroom like column in the greenhouse. Image © Weiqi Jin

As The ‘fissure’ starts from the north, the building rises from the ground and ascends to the second floor as the form extends southwards.

With the sense that the building is embedded into the landscape, the continuous roofline blurs the boundary between the ground and the floors, creating a sense of dynamic movement as it rises into the air at the southern point.

Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
View the mountains from a under canopy terrace. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
the connection of terraces. Image © Weiqi Jin

The horizontality is defined by the buildings mass and langue of the elevation details echoing both the vast wilderness of its contextual setting and the strata of the ground below .

CONFIGURATION: A SEMI-OPEN COURTYARD LAYOUT

A central courtyard defines the heart of the complex, as daily activities from catering and shopping to exhibition display and property management are set out in rational and intuitive layout.

Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
under canopy space and the courtyard. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
terraces and the garden. Image © Weiqi Jin

The outdoor passages, steps and terraces interspersed between the built spaces create a rich walking experience, stimulating not only the interaction between tourists and the building, but also providing multiple perspectives for viewing the Garden.

In summary being a poetic composition of harmony between a restored landscape and iconic architecture.

Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
night view of the courtyard. Image © Weiqi Jin


Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
a sharp corner of the roof canopy. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
night view of the greenhouse. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
south facade along the road. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
courtyard view from the upper terrace. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
northwestern aerial view. Image © Weiqi Jin
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
northeastern aerial view. Image © Weiqi Jin


Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
site plan
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
1F plan
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
2F plan
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
axonometric


Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
east elevation
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
west elevation
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
south elevation
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
north elevation


Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
form generation
Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
perspective section


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Qiseshan Quarry Garden Visitor Centre
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