Tanghua Architect & Associates 汤桦建筑设计事务所

Ningbo International Conference Center

Ningbo International Conference Center
© MMCM

Ningbo International Conference Center

Tanghua Architects

CLIENT
Ningbo International Conference Center Development

PHOTOGRAPHS
Geek, Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering, Mmcm

LEAD ARCHITECT
Hua Tang

PROJECT MANAGER
Yue Liu

TRAFFIC ENGINEERING CONSULTANT
Bmilp Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd.

NOISE PROTECTIO
Bmilp Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd

DESIGN CONSULTANTS
Ningbo Urban Construction Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.

PROJECT PRINCIPAL
Fang Deng

INTERIOR ELECTROMECHANICAL DESIGN
Sen Wang, Junfeng Song, Yao Gu, Tao Wang

CURTAIN WALL DESIGN
Ccat

INTERIOR DESIGN
Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering & Design

PROJECT PRINCIPALS
Xin Xie, Weijie Zhuo, Lin Peng, Junxian Zhou

HOTEL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Cheng Zhao, Minghui Li, Sen Ai, Jing Zhao, Tonglang Dong

INTERIOR DESIGN PRINCIPAL
Meng Wang

INTERIOR MATERIALS
Peng Li, Haidong Liu

LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Hangzhou Landscape Architecture Design Institute Co., Ltd.

BIM DESIGN
Ningbo Youchen Architectural Design Consultant Co., Ltd.

SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANTS
Ningbo Housing Building Energy Conservation Technology Co. Ltd

SCHEMATIC DESIGN
Tanghua Architects

VISUAL DESIGN
Hangzhou Jicheng Culture & Art Co., Ltd.

FIRE ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS
Arup Shanghai

AREA
398413 M²

FLOODLIGHTING DESIGN
Kaiser Lighting

EPC
Beijing Institute Of Architectural Design (Biad), China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Corp. Ltd.

CIVIL AIR DEFENSE DESIGN
Nanjing Underground Engineering & Architecture Design Institute Co., Ltd. (Ningbo High-tech Zone Branch)

CIVIL ENGINEERING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN CONSULTANT
Ningbo Economic & Technical Development Zone Urban Construction Design Co., Ltd

INTERIOR DECORATIO
Xiaoming Tan , Chunmei Zheng, Qian Zhao, Lan Wang, Yue Li, Jingyu Tian, Pei Tao, Ang Chen, Qiong Wang

STRUCTURAL DESIGN
Dong Wei, Wei Han, Tong Hao, Pojiang Wu, Hanwen Cheng, Qian Li, Ting Chang, Sheng Wang, Qixiao Fang, Fulong Su, Zikui Song, Yanan Niu, Yaxin Chen, Xuechao Li, Zhenyu Hao, Yuchen Pan, Fei Teng

EQUIPMENT DESIGN TEAM
Honglei Xu, Fan Yang, Jinbiao Wang, Ruiying Qi, Chen Gao, Guixia Hu, Yiheng Xu, Xin Zhao, Shengquan Zhao, Hang Jiang, Huiling Chen, Mengjiao Huang, Qian Sun, Yingqian Gong

PROJECT TEAM
Jian Peng, Qiulong Zhang, Wenfeng Chen, Mengchan Tang, Wenbo Yu, Zhenji Huang, Xihao Yi, Kun Wang, Huawei Liu, Tianhao Wang, Ying Liu, Xin Zheng, Xinzu Wang

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Shan Yang, Jun Teng, Yibing Qiao, Xiaochen Guo, Lijun Kang, Shangwen Sun, Yanhao Zhao, Dawei Zhao, Yirun Jin, Shujing Li, Chen Liu, Chengqi Wei, Chenxi Jiang

ELECTRICAL DESIGN TEAM
Hong Ren, Jianjiang Hua, Jie Wei, Lingyu Wang, Jingjing Zhi, Hengjie Wei, Jiaqi Ruan, Cong Zhao, Yi Geng, Luyan Jiang

SCHEMATIC INTERIOR DESIGN
Meng Wang, Pan Gao, Yamei Liu, Yemeng Liu, Haoran Zu, Shuli Du, Xueling Liang, Mingyang Qu

CONFERENCE HALL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Bing Dong, Tianlun Yang, Jian Liu, Ronghui Li, Pengwei Tao, Jia Zhao, Yi Li, Qingxuan Li, Qi Zhang

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
Ningbo, China

CATEGORY
Cultural Center

Tanghua Architects has conceived a conference center in the form of a covered bridge surrounded by picturesque mountain and river landscapes.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek

The scheme, with distinctive design and a response to the genius loci, stood out among other proposals in an international competition and has been successfully executed.

The conference center serves as a venue for government affairs and business activities related to the "Belt and Road Initiative" and "Yangtze River Delta Integration Plan".

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek

Furthermore, it symbolizes national culture and plays the role of a bridge connecting Ningbo and the world. The conference center is located in the Dongqian Lake Scenic Area on the southeast outskirts of Ningbo City.

Adjacent to the west shore of Dongqian Lake and connected to two mountains on its north and south sides, the core plot spans about 49 hectares (735 mu). It's where the streams, rivers, lakes, mountains, lotus ponds, water outlets and riverbanks meet, and expansive paddies and wetlands unfold across thousands of square meters.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek

ECOLOGICAL CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLINESS

We have preserved the site's existing topography, water system and ecosystem, with the conference center arranged overhead in a north-south belt-shaped area.

The compact configuration of the building ensures the preservation of 36.7 hectares of agrarian landscape, embodying a romantic retention of agricultural landscape in the era of rapid urban expansion.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek

On one hand, this allows for flexibly reserved land for potential future urban development; On the one hand, the existing farmland has become an ecologically continuous transition zone that facilitates "city-field symbiosis".

PROGRAMS AND SCALE

The covered bridge is divided into four areas with three water outlets with the programs arranged according to the public-private logic from north to south.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering

The northern part of the layout is an 11,000㎡ large-scale multi-purpose hall, which is followed by the 5,500㎡ main venues, the 3,700㎡banquet hall, and the 1,800㎡summit area. The southern part is a five-star hotel with 342 rooms. The three water outlets naturally become landscape nodes between the functional volumes and open spaces.

Small-scale streets and commercial settlements that are connected to the conference center are arranged along the water, together with the villages, market streets, and temples, they constitute a multi-dimensional urban scene like that of a picturesque Jiangnan scroll painting.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering

CIRCULATION

The main building volume is elevated to 5m in height, with the main structure, equipment and service functions packed into a 5m height volume. The conference floor is 10 meters above the site's ground.

Taking advantage of the site's height variance between the north and the south, the conference center can be connected to the city road at different heights, realizing three-dimensional traffic.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Beijing Biad Decoration Engineering

When hosting meetings, attendees enter the conference center from the upper level and exit from the lower level, while service circulation and freight circulation are organized separately. With multiple exits connecting with the urban public transportation network, smooth assemblage and evacuation are ensured.

When the conference venues are closed, the covered bridge and the commercial streets are open to the public round the clock, transforming into an iconic market and settlements reminiscent of Jiangnan water towns. The covered bridge is not just a simple bridge, but rather, a building in the form of a bridge.

It serves as a multi-functional public open space, providing shelter from the sun and rain, as well as a place for people to rest, communicate, gather, and enjoy the scenery. This unique structure also contributes to establishing an educational hub that blends the elements of local culture, history, and science.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Beijing BIAD Decoration Engineering
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The emphasis on environmental conservation, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction is integrated into individual buildings and the urban infrastructure network.

The project site is located next to Gaoqiu Weir, an important area for flood diversion and storage as part of the Dongqian Lake flood control system.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek

To minimize the impact on the local hydrological environment, the design team conceived a stilted bridge-style building elevated above the fields.

This allows for a close view of Dongqian Lake without altering the intrinsic properties of Gaoqiu Weir. To reduce rainwater runoff and water pollution, green roofs are employed, while permeable paving materials are used to retain large areas of green space and increase water infiltration and replenishment.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek

Additionally, on-site renewable PV energy is used to provide hot water, and a geothermal heat exchange system is implemented to enhance energy conservation and save space resources. Tracing back to the cultural origin of Ningbo City, agriculture can be regarded as the root of the Hemudu culture.

By preserving the natural wetland on the site, our design juxtaposes the high-density, fast-paced urbanized area with the idyllic natural space, and integrates the cultural tourism industry system with the exhibition industry system.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek
Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek

It's the nexus between the regional culture and the modern city, a contemporary Jiangnan water town where the rivers and lakes meet and accommodate both farming and commerce and a Ningbo sample of the people's longing for a better life.

Ningbo International Conference Center
© Geek



Ningbo International Conference Center
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Ningbo International Conference Center
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Ningbo International Conference Center
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Ningbo International Conference Center
Plan - Site
Ningbo International Conference Center
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Ningbo International Conference Center
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Ningbo International Conference Center
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Tanghua Architect & Associates 汤桦建筑设计事务所
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Tanghua Architect & Associates 汤桦建筑设计事务所
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