Company:
RÖDER ARCHITECTURE

Project Details

Fabric 1

PVC
Producer/Manufacturer: OTHER
Primary Use: Main Fabric


Engineer Name 1
ZHANG DI

Engineer Company 1
Röder Architecture

Design Name
DAI Ruoyu, MI Kejie

Design Company
Wutopia Lab

Architect Name
YU Ting

Architect Company
Wutopia Lab

Fabrication Name
ZHANG DI

Fabrication Company
Röder Architecture

Graphics Company
Röder Architecture

Project Manager Name
MU Zhilin

Installation Company
Röder Architecture


Please describe the project specifications

Chinese architecture practice Wutopia Lab has converted a former roof-covered stockyard and a duty room into a wave-shaped community hub in Pudong, Shanghai, China. Named Klein Blue Hills and White Cliff, the 330-square-meter complex comprises two shelter-like structures with wave-shaped roofs, serving as a mixed-use building.

The white structure, White Cliff, is crafted using prefabricated fabric materials and a tensile membrane structure, creating a distinctive concave form. This design not only gives the building a lightweight appearance but also offers flexible and dynamic structural properties. The use of prefabricated fabric materials ensures the building is both robust and durable, while also allowing for quick assembly and disassembly. The tensile membrane structure provides excellent wind and earthquake resistance, while delivering smooth curves and expansive interior spaces. Through this innovative architectural technique, White Cliff achieves a perfect blend of aesthetics and functionality, becoming a symbol of futuristic architectural design.

The translucent PVC fabric curtain wall outlines the White Cliff, while the interior consists of a solid geometric form. The concept is influenced by the way view children from a high vantage point, assuming they need protection and are vulnerable. However, children can be resilient, and any setbacks they face will be a baptism for their future exciting lives. This forms the two-layer boundary of the White Cliff.

Situated at the backside of the complex is the undulating blue metallic building, while the white structure is positioned at the front of the courtyard. Reflecting on the words of poet Yu Xiuhua, "How big the world is, and need to run to the other end of life before it gets dark," the design encapsulates a journey of discovery and resilience.


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