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change architects reference worms digging into earth for OCT Chaohu Cultural Centre

Emerging out of a juncture of nature and city, the ultra-sinuous OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre in China is informed by the idea and aesthetic of naturally occurring forms.

by STIRworldPublished on : Mar 09, 2023

How would a building seem, if landscape design meets flowing facades?

A close enough answer emerges out of a precise juncture of nature and urban settlement, the ultra-sinuous OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre, conceived by change architects is a man-made landscape, a structure replete with a grass-topped roof and earth-coloured surfaces that forgoes straight lines or strict geometries.

  • Aerial view of the OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre conceived in China | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    Aerial view of the OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre conceived in China Image: Wu Qingshan
  • The organic, low-lying cultural building is located at the foot of a site that lies between the natural mountains and the Chaohu city | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    The organic, low-lying cultural building is located at the foot of a site that lies between the natural mountains and the Chaohu city Image: Wu Qingshan

Referencing the mountains of China’s Anhui province, the cultural centre is described by the Chinese studio as a "carrier of natural elements, a moment of environmental reformation." The organic, low-lying cultural building is located at the foot of a site that lies between the natural mountains and the city, stretching for tens of kilometres from northeast to southwest on the north side of Chaohu city in China.

The entrance ramp of the cultural centre reshapes the contours of the surrounding mountains and natural landscape | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
The entrance ramp of the cultural centre reshapes the contours of the surrounding mountains and natural landscape Image: Wu Qingshan

“This project could be considered a critical point of the local natural environment and urban domestic life. The purpose of the architecture is to demonstrate the indigenous cultural heritage while being on the fence for the future life of domestic entertainment in the city,” the Chinese architects share.

The first interface of the building interprets the contours of the landscape | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
The first interface of the building interprets the contours of the landscape Image: Wu Qingshan

change architects relay that the architectural concept for the animated building is derived from the idea and aesthetic of naturally occurring forms—“we wondered how to make the background of the mountain, the earth's lush vegetation, its rich geological context and more, to form the body of the building itself, and through its formation, become a carrier to channel the light and shadow, rain and snow, air, water, and other discerning natural elements. To put it simply, the concept is nature itself.”

The space under the dome with skylight (L); the trail of the sunken area underneath the dome (R) | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
(L) The space under the dome with skylight; (R) the trail of the sunken area underneath the dome Image: Wu Qingshan

For the Chinese studio, architecture is no longer just the scale and space required for human activities, but more importantly, a catalyst and medium to express nature and its ensuing elements, letting humans seep in nature’s force, shaping their behaviour. Commissioned by the OCT East China Group, OCT Hefei Huanchao cultural and Tourism Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., the cultural centre provides a community hub and restaurant for the Bantung Hot Spring Town resort, part of a new economic development zone, north of the Chaohu city.

Natural reflection of the cultural centre on the terrace | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
Natural reflection of the cultural centre on the terrace Image: Wu Qingshan

Learning from the natural landscape

Realised over three years, the OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre learns from the natural landscape, its volume articulated as a projection of the mountain’s external shape, as well as the contours of the earth. On this building block, change architects proceeded to carry out the paths carved by worms tunnelling into the earth—‘a wiggly worm in the ground’— wormholes carving into the building’s skin and insides to create its tangible boundaries, like a natural phenomenon, akin to worms crawling and creating cavities in the ground. The biomimetic architecture is deliberate, with wormholes shaped like worms drilling out of the building’s surface, in turn, creating natural nodes that form large, organic openings and viewing platforms of the structure, permitting guests to witness the surrounding landscape through them.

‘Wormholes’ are carved into the building’s form (L); View of the amphitheatre (R)| OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
(L) ‘Wormholes’ are carved into the building’s form; (R) View of the amphitheatre Image: Wu Qingshan

These holes and curved apertures puncture the roof to create skylights, bringing natural light into the open courtyards underneath. Sunken spaces akin to amphitheatre settings become informal areas for performances. These are accompanied by sinuous walkways that mimic its dynamic, flowing exterior, becoming pathways to access the restaurant’s entrance, where visitors can move towards the expansive lounge or towards the dining room.

Natural elements converge at the large platform space under the dome | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
Natural elements converge at the large platform space under the dome Image: Wu Qingshan

A fully-glazed wall inside the restaurant design boasts of views of the lake outside. Illuminated at night, the OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre is reflected resplendent in the adjacent waterbody, forming a picture-perfect moment where the “mountains, water and buildings meet," share the design team. A glass viewing box that is inserted into the undulating outline of the landmark architecture is the only element that features straight lines, a complete departure from the rest of the project.

Surfaces of the theatre simulates contours of the mountain (L); Access ramp to the theatre (R) | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
(L) Surfaces of the theatre simulates contours of the mountain; (R) Access ramp to the theatre Image: Wu Qingshan

The 1,500 sqm building takes in its surrounding topography by building a relationship with the landscape, where the Chinese architecture embodies the strength, spaciousness, and experience of being within the undulant forms of nature, more specifically, natural caves taken over by wild vegetation. This is most apparent in the concrete curving profile of the building which is crowned with a green roof, offering an "authentic spatial effect, not only focusing on the whole monolith, while incorporating the localisation, physical landform and peripheral regions,” the Chinese studio shares.

The roof’s curves become a viewing platform that frames the distant mountains | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
The roof’s curves become a viewing platform that frames the distant mountains Image: Wu Qingshan

change architects also contemplated which systems of construction and local construction techniques (low or high tech) seemed more suitable to realise the contemporary architecture. The cultural centre was thus bestowed a sturdy steel structure to ensure speed and controllability of its construction and completion. “On the top and bottom of the structure layer, the roof in-situ pouring and GRC hanging board are combined respectively,” they share.

The OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre becomes one with the landscape (top); Wormhole vistas (bottom) | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
(Top) The OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre becomes one with the landscape; (Bottom) Wormhole vistas Image: Wu Qingshan

For the roof, concrete was poured on its surface, while the inner cavity was made of GRC hanging board as the core layers for the contextual architecture. After the construction of the foundation level was completed, change architects used two methods of planting the roof and spraying lightweight concrete to complete the shaping of the upper and lower veneer layers.

  • A fragment of the centre’s green roof passes over traffic below | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    A fragment of the centre’s green roof passes over traffic below Image: Wu Qingshan
  • The building’s roof covered in light snow during winters | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    The building’s roof covered in light snow during winters Image: Wu Qingshan

“Compared with the curtain wall system, these two methods are both malleable finishes, and their inherent characteristics made it a better match with the streamlined shape of the landmark building, and greatly reduced the tolerance for accuracy,” they share.

  • The steel structure, formwork, and concrete roof casting | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    The steel structure, formwork, and concrete roof casting Image: Wu Qingshan
  • Laying of the green roof | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    Laying of the green roof Image: Wu Qingshan

Owing to the massive difference in the slope rate of the building’s roof, the concrete architecture adopts a variety of anti-skid treatment strategies. On gentle slopes, large mesh anti-skid partitions were used, while on steeper slopes, dense hole partitions were employed. 50mm of formula soil in the corresponding anti-skid partitions of different densities were filled to ensure that the roof vegetation could survive for a longer period.

  • Diagram explaining the morphological deduction of the cultural centre’s form from nature | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    Diagram explaining the morphological deduction of the cultural centre’s form from nature Image: Courtesy of change architects
  • Site and floor plans | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    Site and floor plans Image: Courtesy of change architects
  • Elevations | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    Elevations Image: Courtesy of change architects
  • Sections | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    Sections Image: Courtesy of change architects
  • Comprehensive drawing of the building construction system | OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre by change architects | STIRworld
    Comprehensive drawing of the building construction system Image: Courtesy of change architects

Project Details

Name: OCT Chaohu Natural and Cultural Centre
Area: 1,500 sqm
Year of completion: 2022
Client: OCT East China Group, OCT Hefei Huanchao cultural and Tourism Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.
Architect: change architects
Design team: Jiang Qiu, Zhou Yangyang, Shi Chen, Li Baona, Hou Xiaomeng, Jin Xiaoli, Bian Keming, Hao Ziting
Local Design Institute: Anhui Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Landscape Designer: Masters'Architectural Office (M.A.O)
Structural Engineer: Anhui Fuhuang Construction Co., Ltd
Interior Designer: Ipoletz Architectural Consulting Services (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. IFGROUP (Germany)
Architectural Creativity and Design Consultant Architects: Cai Sheng, HAN SONGLI, Yin Wenjun, Hao Xingyu, Qian Jun
Structure Consultant: Shanghai Wilderness Structural Des. Firm Inc.(General Partnership)
Structure Designer: Zhang Yewei
Curtain Wall Consultant: Shanghai Xima Curtain Wall Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd.
Lighting Design Consultant: Jiehan Lighting Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Logo Design Consultant: Beijing Tushi Space Creative Design Co., Ltd.
FF&E Consultant: Shanghai KEYI Architectural Design Co., Ltd. (KOYI)

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