Huanxiu Lake Science Popularization and Education Center Design l Atelier Folie

Architecture, Research Center

Located in Xiaying Town, Jizhou District, Tianjin, lies the Huanxiu Lake Science Popularization and Education Center. There has been a steady decline in inhabitants and the quality of public services in Xiaying Town throughout the years.
Despite being a hub between the two major cities of Beijing and Tianjin, its progress has lagged. The ancient villages at the crossroads of Tianjin and Beijing have benefited from fresh possibilities for growth because of Jizhou District’s efforts in the past few years to integrate the emerging urban planning of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei.

Huanxiu Lake Science Popularization and Education Center Arch2O

In 2020, the government funded the building of the Huanxiu Lake National Wetland Park in coordination with local tourism initiatives to protect aquatic ecosystems, efficiently use marsh resources, educate the public about wetlands, and conduct groundbreaking studies in the field. The studio was asked to develop a science curriculum and exhibition structure for the proposed Huanxiu Lake Wetland Park as part of a collaborative effort between regional tourism planning and the studio.

Huanxiu Lake Science Popularization and Education Center’s Concept

The wetland science area is located east of the structure, while the western section of the building is adjacent to the wetland plank road landscape. The form is friendlier, and the design adheres to the landscape’s island plan by incorporating the red line of the designated oval plot. The Huanxiu Lake Science Center’s design carefully restricts the structure’s height so that it is not taller than the tallest residences in Xiaying town, maintaining a low profile within the context of the surrounding historical village and natural landscape.
The design, which has a maximum height restriction of about seven meters, features a two-story terrace looking out over the park’s wetland landscape, the gurgling stream in the middle, and the far-away mountains, with the roof side dropping towards the dam. To the west, Huanxiu Lake Science Center takes advantage of a picturesque vista of the river and a dam in the distance.

The Huanxiu Lake Science Center’s exterior shape uses an uninterrupted glass curtain wall for height management and to provide a seamless transition between the inside exhibition and the outdoor landscape, thus making the view inside bright and clear. It’s an enjoyable opportunity for kids who come to see the exhibit to have a special bond with nature.

Realization of Space

Glass partitions let in more sunlight and transparency to the missionary hall. The reconfigured bamboo veneer on the Huanxiu Lake Science Center’s exterior strikes an appropriate harmony between resilience and nativity. The interior, meanwhile, is as cozy and homey at night as a cabin in the woods.
The roof’s curvature results from 24 angled steel trusses resting on the inner and outer ring shafts at varying heights and widths. Going through the Huanxiu Lake Science Center’s outside corridor, you’ll see both the inside and exterior, thanks to the shingle roof’s gradual descending expansion, which keeps the building long and narrow.

As visitors enter the space, the circular path they will follow becomes apparent. The missionary hall’s internal scenery shaping and the external glass curtain wall’s massive openings bring vibrant shades of light variations to the space. Inside are many engaging displays of local wildlife and plants, making it an ideal place for young children to learn about the natural world.

Slowly making your way around the inside circular stairs, guests can reach the observation deck on the second floor. The ramp is bathed in a textured play of light and shadow from the sun streaming in through the glass screen wall. Once on the second-floor platform, visitors can view the circular skylight and the roof’s gradual decline in height from east to west, ending in a low position of 1.5 meters.

Design Challenges

Huanxiu Lake Science Center’s foundation was the actualization of a landscape plan. Therefore, the initial work area was a tiny, roughly triangular piece of land, with the surrounding landscape design nearing completion. The architects gave up on their original plan to shape-break through the site. Instead, they decided to meld the architectural plan with the existing site entirely. This resulted in a triangular plan with curves and a second-level open terrace looking up the hill from the building’s centerpiece, a multi-use hall. The most significant obstacle they overcame with this layout was allowing the space’s inner impact to radiate outward.

Second, the slope and length of the trusses are not the same since the foundation is not perpendicular to the inner and outer circles of the overall design to maintain a consistent height between the wall and the outer circle column grid. To achieve a more dynamic façade form, the design team decided to detach the building from the wall.
Third, the circular ramp’s angle must correspond with the roof’s slope specification. The building drawing design process is now complete after numerous rounds of testing yielded the optimal roof angle and ramp starting point.

Public Advantages

The Huanxiu Lake Science popularization and education center serves the demands of the urban population in Beijing and Tianjin to engage in the science and exploration of the natural world. Also, it serves to fulfill the job requirements of locals by coordinating with regional tourism planning and addressing the issue of workforce loss and advancing age in the countryside.
Children on vacation with their parents can enjoy the wetland landscape, gain exposure to popular scientific concepts, and participate in traditional arts and crafts by taking advantage of the area’s tourist policy. The Huanxiu Lake Science Center serves as a learning and entertainment resource for locals while strengthening rural rehabilitation’s real-world impact.