Bionic mimetism. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China
02/05/2022.
[Haikou] China
metalocus, CARLOS RUBIO
metalocus, CARLOS RUBIO
The Wenming East Tunnel entrances through Penda China is a project that facilitates the movement and logistics needs of the new District, effectively connecting Haikou City with Chengmai County and Wenchang City in China.
The commission involved the design of three entrances to the tunnel, one of which is larger and two smaller ones along the coast. The entrances take as their sculptural inspiration elements of marine life, namely undulating white shells as a prototype.
The commission involved the design of three entrances to the tunnel, one of which is larger and two smaller ones along the coast. The entrances take as their sculptural inspiration elements of marine life, namely undulating white shells as a prototype.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Concept sketch. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
Master plan. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
Master plan. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
East entrance plan. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
West north entrance plan. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
West south entrance plan. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
East entrance section. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
West north entrance section. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
East entrance elevation. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
West north entrance elevation. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
Model. Wenming East Tunnel Entrances by Penda China.
The Penda China project stems from the implementation of the central government's new master plan to boost the commercial development of the city of Haikou. A new free trade port was built, which has now become an innovative central infrastructure for the Jiangdong New District.
The architects' work consists of designing the different entrances to this bridge and they do so by creating a unique atmosphere with an almost sculptural, light-filled design. Reflecting on the transition offered by the passage of a tunnel to the human eye, the entrances have a curved canopy that allows a progressive and pleasant entry of natural light.
This canopy is constituted by an organic design, clad with glazed aluminium panels and attached stainless steel sheets. The essence of the project lies in the imitation of the gills of a fish, through numerous lights of reduced size, the work tries to reflect the luminescence produced by certain marine organisms.
The architects' work consists of designing the different entrances to this bridge and they do so by creating a unique atmosphere with an almost sculptural, light-filled design. Reflecting on the transition offered by the passage of a tunnel to the human eye, the entrances have a curved canopy that allows a progressive and pleasant entry of natural light.
This canopy is constituted by an organic design, clad with glazed aluminium panels and attached stainless steel sheets. The essence of the project lies in the imitation of the gills of a fish, through numerous lights of reduced size, the work tries to reflect the luminescence produced by certain marine organisms.
Description of project by Penda China
In 2020, PRC’s central government set out a Masterplan to get the ball rolling in supporting the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port (Hainan FTP) , which has been designated to be a hub port under the policy of The Belt and Road Initiative.
Thus far, Hainan Province has quickly and seamlessly integrated into the special economic zone (SEZ) of Mainland China, and its free trade port is now on par with those of Hong Kong and Singapore. Transportation is clearly crucial for the proper functioning of a major hub port; accordingly, Jiangdong New District in Haikou City - the capital and most populous city in Hainan – has commissioned an underground passageway, the Wenming East Tunnel.
The project facilitates the New District’s fast-growing transportation and logistics needs with an elegant design, efficiently connecting Haikou City with Chengmai County and Wenchang City as part of the overall economic integration of the area.
Penda China was commissioned to design three entrances to the tunnel, one of which is much larger in scale and located on the east side, by the shoreline; the other two are on the west side and much smaller.
Generally, vehicular tunnel entrances must provide a transition zone in order to allow the human eye time to acclimate to the considerable change in brightness when going into the tunnel. To dispel any danger to potential drivers, Penda China’s design does away with LED light grilles, and instead incorporates a curved madeleine-shaped canopy. This open clamshell shape ushers in natural light, while maintaining a uniformity of luminance at the entrance.
The entrances are a practice of bionic design, taking elements of marine life as sculptural inspiration, and specifically use undulating white shells as a prototype in homage to their location by the sea.
The canopy is clad in glazed aluminum panels, which have been selected for their exceptional shine and luster. Subtle black lines delineate the outer surface of the canopy in counterpoint to the expanse of curving white panels.
The underside of the canopy also incorporates the undulating texture, with the white material continued down the side walls to ensure a uniformity of luminance which is pleasing to the eye. The appearance of a fish’s gills has been taken as a motif there, in a continuation of the marine life theme.
Light travels into the tunnel and over the undulating surface in a rhythmic manner, akin to ripples in still water which gently repeat and gradually subside. The way the stainless steel sheets have been embedded in the granite walls allows the reflected light pattern to continue further, extending the established rhythm.
Penda China has also drawn creative inspiration from marine bioluminescence, incorporating a multitude of small lights embedded in the lines between cladding panels. This allows the outer shell to emit a glow at night from up top, bringing a hint of romance to the city.
The three entrance designs vary in size, shape, and location, while all adhering to the same set of design principles, creating a harmony between them and their particular sites. From a bird’s eye point of view, these futuristic landmark entrances stand out from the existing city fabric and provide a tinge of surrealism to Haikou, as envisioned by Penda China.
As time goes on, who knows what a city will look like 20 years from now? Perhaps these entrances are simply a beautiful vision of the future, as imagined by Penda China.
More information
Architects
Penda China. Lead architects.- Sun Dayong, Wan Shuyan.
Collaborators
Engineering.- Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Railway Traffic Design & Research Institute.
Area
2,720 sqm.
Dates
2020.
Location
Jiangdong New District, Haikou, Hainan Province, China.
Photography
Sun Dayong, Wan Shuyan. Penda China
Penda China. Founded in 2013 and led by Sun Dayong and Wan Shuyan, Penda China is a Beijing-based studio that embraces innovative design. With the international exposure it has gained, the studio is a stickler for ‘LESS IS LOVE’ from an ecological standpoint. They strive to establish an agreeable rapport between individuals and their surroundings while capturing the zeitgeist of art, fashion, and architecture. Their multidisciplinary practice covers a wide spectrum from architecture, and landscape to interiors, installation art and such, and a variety of functions including culture, residence, hotel, office, transportation, business, and exhibition. Their clients include BMW, MINI (CN), Volkswagen, Vanke, Qihao, China Merchants Property, Kaisa, Wanhua Real Estate, and many other famous brands at home and abroad.
Their fashionable, green and innovative designs have garnered us many honors and extended actual influence within a worldwide scene. Hongkun Art Gallery (alternatively known as ‘Hongkun Museum of Fine Arts’), one of our projects, was selected to be one of the ten most popular art galleries in Beijing by Time Out. They were shortlisted four times as one of the most influential Chinese designers by the prestigious Architectural Digest AD100; won the Architizer A+ Award for Emerging Firm of the Year (2016); invited to be one of the ten architects to the 1st House Vision 2018 Beijing Exhibition curated by Kenya Hara, shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2021 emerging architecture studio of the year. The studio founder was also invited to sit on the jury panel for the international competitions such as eVolo, making a voice internationally for Chinese architects; and elected to be Person of the Year and Architect of the Year by the renowned magazine's TRENDS HOME, Robb Report Lifestyle, etc.
Penda China has won numerous awards at home and abroad. The founder Sun Dayong won the First Prize for the Excellent Graduation Design of graduates in the School of Architecture, Central Academy of Fine Arts. Some representative award-winning projects are: Hongkun Art Gallery awarded the Outstanding Public Space of the Golden Bund Award (2014), Home Café awarded the Best Dining Space Design of JINTANG PRIZE (2015), Toby’s Home awarded the Best Leisure and Entertainment Space Design of JINTANG PRIZE (2015), Snow Apartment awarded the Best Residential Interior Design of Architizer A+ Awards (2015); Toby’s Home awarded the Gold Award of A' Design Award & Competition (2016); Rising Canes Pavilion awarded the Silver Award of A' Design Award & Competition (2016), Haikou Wenming East Road Tunnel awarded the World Design Awards (2021), gold award of Global Future Design Awards, The Plan Awards, and nominated for Iconic Awards and Wallpaper* Design Award (Best Infrastructure), etc.
Their design works have been included in numerous exhibitions at home and abroad, including the Start of a Long Journey Outstanding Works by Graduates of 2012 from Key Art Academies in China held in CAFA Art Museum; AIT International Young Architects Design Exchange Exhibition (2012); “ZAO – Architecture of China” in Lyons, France ( 2014); Architecture China 1000, Beijing, China (2015); “10×100 – An Exhibition of 100 Architects” on the 10th Anniversary of UED (2015); Rising Canes Pavilion in Beijing Design Week (2015); “Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture” in Shenzhen, China (2015); “Walking Box” of Salone del Mobile (2016); Landscape City Reconstructing Utopia--Architecture and Art Exhibition in Shanghai Himalaya Art Museum (2016); MINI 60 Anniversary, Shanghai (2017); China House Vision, Beijing, China (2018); Urban Co-Habitation in SUPER FUSION 2021 Chengdu Biennale, etc.
Meanwhile, those projects have featured globally acclaimed media, such as METALOCUS, Dezeen, Archdaily, Designboom, Domus, Frame, Interior Design, Gooood, Position, INTERIORS (South Korea), CASA (Japan), Wall Paper (UK), GQ, COSMOPOLITAN,, AD, Ideat, TRENDS HOME, Rayli Home, UED, AT, New Architecture, World Architecture Review, and World Architecture, etc.
Their fashionable, green and innovative designs have garnered us many honors and extended actual influence within a worldwide scene. Hongkun Art Gallery (alternatively known as ‘Hongkun Museum of Fine Arts’), one of our projects, was selected to be one of the ten most popular art galleries in Beijing by Time Out. They were shortlisted four times as one of the most influential Chinese designers by the prestigious Architectural Digest AD100; won the Architizer A+ Award for Emerging Firm of the Year (2016); invited to be one of the ten architects to the 1st House Vision 2018 Beijing Exhibition curated by Kenya Hara, shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2021 emerging architecture studio of the year. The studio founder was also invited to sit on the jury panel for the international competitions such as eVolo, making a voice internationally for Chinese architects; and elected to be Person of the Year and Architect of the Year by the renowned magazine's TRENDS HOME, Robb Report Lifestyle, etc.
Penda China has won numerous awards at home and abroad. The founder Sun Dayong won the First Prize for the Excellent Graduation Design of graduates in the School of Architecture, Central Academy of Fine Arts. Some representative award-winning projects are: Hongkun Art Gallery awarded the Outstanding Public Space of the Golden Bund Award (2014), Home Café awarded the Best Dining Space Design of JINTANG PRIZE (2015), Toby’s Home awarded the Best Leisure and Entertainment Space Design of JINTANG PRIZE (2015), Snow Apartment awarded the Best Residential Interior Design of Architizer A+ Awards (2015); Toby’s Home awarded the Gold Award of A' Design Award & Competition (2016); Rising Canes Pavilion awarded the Silver Award of A' Design Award & Competition (2016), Haikou Wenming East Road Tunnel awarded the World Design Awards (2021), gold award of Global Future Design Awards, The Plan Awards, and nominated for Iconic Awards and Wallpaper* Design Award (Best Infrastructure), etc.
Their design works have been included in numerous exhibitions at home and abroad, including the Start of a Long Journey Outstanding Works by Graduates of 2012 from Key Art Academies in China held in CAFA Art Museum; AIT International Young Architects Design Exchange Exhibition (2012); “ZAO – Architecture of China” in Lyons, France ( 2014); Architecture China 1000, Beijing, China (2015); “10×100 – An Exhibition of 100 Architects” on the 10th Anniversary of UED (2015); Rising Canes Pavilion in Beijing Design Week (2015); “Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture” in Shenzhen, China (2015); “Walking Box” of Salone del Mobile (2016); Landscape City Reconstructing Utopia--Architecture and Art Exhibition in Shanghai Himalaya Art Museum (2016); MINI 60 Anniversary, Shanghai (2017); China House Vision, Beijing, China (2018); Urban Co-Habitation in SUPER FUSION 2021 Chengdu Biennale, etc.
Meanwhile, those projects have featured globally acclaimed media, such as METALOCUS, Dezeen, Archdaily, Designboom, Domus, Frame, Interior Design, Gooood, Position, INTERIORS (South Korea), CASA (Japan), Wall Paper (UK), GQ, COSMOPOLITAN,, AD, Ideat, TRENDS HOME, Rayli Home, UED, AT, New Architecture, World Architecture Review, and World Architecture, etc.
Categories
Our selection
