Inspired by the natural landscape of Chengdu’s prairies, these panda pavilions are conceived as a fusion of architecture and landscape. The four ring-shaped pavilions nestle into park’s woodland slopes, enclosing terraced outdoor space for pandas. Connecting pathways and bermed viewing galleries provide visitors with varied vantage points for observing pandas, but with physical boundaries separating panda space and human space. Rising above the topography in places and sinking into it in others, the pavilions’ rings house panda indoor activity spaces and living quarters, along with staff administrative areas and support spaces. In addition, the pavilions provide interactive exhibition and educational spaces designated for panda research and preservation.
The Panda Pavilions is organized around four open-air circular courtyards which serve as outdoor playground for the bears, while providing continuous connection with nature. The design of the panda pavilions concerns with the integration of human experience, architecture and environment. It is intended as a convergence of architecture, landscape and land art. While the project provides a pedestrian friendly navigation experience for the visitors, it prioritizes an animal-friendly environment to minimize the alienation of ecology, promoting biodiversity conservation. These pavilions embrace their natural surroundings, integrating themselves with the topography of the conservation base.
These pavilions are built to become the research lab to house and study the pandas’ behaviors and activities. It also serves the community for educational and recreational purposes, while attracting millions of panda lovers annually to visit the campus. The panda pavilions are devoted to foster a cross-disciplinary collaboration as a care center for the giant pandas. Aimed at educating, entertaining and inspiring a diverse audience from around China and across the world, the panda pavilions will bring a unique cultural experience that blends science, education, art and entertainment. Integrating a habitat for the animals and a behavioral research lab for scientists, the panda pavilions are designed to create an immersive experience of exploration and discovery for the visitors.
The pavilion facades feature vertical articulations of wood-grained aluminum fins, reflecting the vertical rhythms of surrounding bamboo grove. These buildings are organized into three zones: open, semi-open and fully air-conditioned area. Approximate 55% percent of the building area adopted natural ventilation to lower the energy consumption and carbon footprint, as a result, it contributed to create a series of eco-friendly breathing architecture.
Atelier Ping Jiang | EID Arch is a leading international practice for architecture and urbanism. Led by Founding Principal Ping Jiang, FAIA, who established the Shanghai based practice in 2015, the firm strives to provide environmentally sensitive and innovative design solutions for architecture and urban environment. The practice is founded on the belief that architecture should concern itself with the environment, and is deeply committed to design excellence, innovation and sustainability.
Atelier Ping Jiang’s work has received numerous international design awards and has been published in architectural journals internationally. His work has been featured at international art exhibition and biennial. In 2021, Ping Jiang was named to AD 100 as one of the 100 most influential designers working in China. The practice received AIA International Firm Award in 2022.