BOULDER PARK
Xisui Design
ARCHITECTS
Xisui Design
STRUCTURAL DESIGN
Luan Lu Partners Structure Consulting
3 D PRINTING CONSTRUCTION
Guanli Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
CLIENTS
Vanke Jinan
DESIGN TEAM
Hu Yihao, Peng Yang, Li Chengxi, Zheng Mengzi, Chen Wenqi, Ruan Chengxin, Liu Yihe, Chu Tiancheng
PHOTOGRAPHS
Chenin Visual
AREA
4000 m²
YEAR
2024
LOCATION
Jinan, China
CATEGORY
Installations & Structures
English description provided by the architects.
In the 13,000-square-meter community park, we use the natural material of large boulders —representing eternity— as the core design element of the garden, naturally integrating with the functional and experiential activities.
For example, boulders lying over a sandpit can be transformed into climbing and resting play structures; stones in the shallow creek can become part of the water play installation.
And the massive rock cave adventure space is creatively realized by the increasingly advanced 3D-printed concrete technology.
DESIGN BACKGROUND
Boulder Park, located in the Yunwan Garden of Vanke Snow Mountain City in Ji'nan, Shandong, covers an area of approximately 13,000 square meters in the central area of the community.
It serves as a comprehensive community park that combines children's playground, shallow stream water activities, parent-child interaction, and leisure.
According to the style characteristics and functionality, the park is generally divided into several areas: the All-Age Boulder Playground, Water Garden, Forest Garden, Stone Garden, and Flower Garden.
Among them, the children's activity part, which is designed by XISUI Design, includes the All-Age Boulder Playground, Water Garden, and Forest Garden.
BOULDER PLAYGROUND
In terms of interactive experiences, the All-Age Boulder Playground and Forest Garden incorporate a variety of children's activity facilities such as swings, slides, seesaws, trampolines, rocking horses, merry-go-rounds, climbing tunnels, speaking tubes, climbing ropes, and more.
These facilities are seamlessly integrated into the natural landscape formed by large stones and concrete caves, providing children with endless enjoyment while also helping them build physical strength in their limbs.
Additionally, these activities promote the development of their brain's ability to recognize nature, balance, and other essential skills.
WATER GARDEN
The Water Garden focuses on outdoor shallow stream play, equipped with fountains, water turntables, water pumps, press-to-release water devices, and more.
These interactive elements provide a space for children of all ages to engage in water play activities and experience the energy of nature's water.
MAIN INSTALLATIONS
The most eye-catching interactive installations on the site are created using cutting-edge construction technology—3D concrete printing.
This advanced manufacturing method, based on digital models, forms solid structures by layering materials.
The technology utilizes a computer-controlled robotic arm to precisely extrude liquid or semi-solid concrete, which then rapidly solidify, building up layer by layer until the entire structure is complete.
The essence lies in the seamless integration of digital design and material science, offering unprecedented freedom and complexity in the field of spatial design and construction.
This process produces unique layered rock textures that blends harmoniously with the tactile impression of natural boulders and caves.
Moreover, its advantage of forming complex free-form curved structures in once enhances both the spatial accuracy and user experience.
3D CONCRETE PRINTING MONOLITHIC MOLDING
Digitally-controlled 3D printing enables monolithic molding of complex organic shapes.
This not only significantly improves shape accuracy, effectively avoiding inevitable errors in conventional craftsmanship, but also reduces reliance on manual skills, showcasing the close fusion of technology and art.
LAYERED CANYON
The unique layered rock texture of the 3D printing technique complements the surrounding natural stone landscape, meeting current functional needs while maintaining an atmosphere of exploration and adventure.
Children playing among the "boulders" seem to be traversing real canyons.Meanwhile, the subtle curves of the surface naturally create steps, handrails, slides, and seating elements, harmonizing function with the form of the installation.
SAFETY AND FUN
Safety and enjoyment are particularly important in children's play areas. All landscape installations created using 3D-printing have rounded corners and smooth edges to prevent any sharp or hazardous areas that could lead to injuries.
The cave-like scenes, combined with slides, tunnels, and speaking tubes, achieving a wonderful unity between the garden environment and children's play activities in terms of form and function.
