Marina Clubhouse | UNStudio

Architecture, Mixed Use

About Marina Clubhouse

Marina Clubhouse at Keppel Cove is in Zhongshan, Guandong Province, China, on the banks of the River Xi. It includes a marina with access to the Xi River, a service building, high-end residential villas, and supporting infrastructure like the CIQP building, a bridge, roads, and surrounding external dykes. Keppel Cove Marina is the only marina in China with a private port of immigration.

Site Plan

Marina Clubhouse is designed to mimic the feeling of being on a yacht or a luxury cruise. It serves as a place for people to escape their busy lives and find tranquility and relaxation. Additionally, it offers various exciting activities and opportunities for exploration.

The main idea for Marina Clubhouse is to establish a distinct presence in the center of the development. This is accomplished by strategically placing key points of identity from the entrance to the river. The experience of crossing the bridge and approaching the clubhouse, with the captivating view of the water and boats, is intended to create a sense of anticipation and excitement.

The design used a different approach to the visual impact and the connection between land and sea. On the land side, a gradually building sculptural landscape can be seen as you approach the clubhouse. On the waterside, there is a distinct and open façade that welcomes seafarers and creates a shimmering reflection on the water.

The building and landscape were designed considering the main access routes to the clubhouse and the attractive view lines. The spaces flow outward in a fan shape from the main infrastructure node at the base of the bridge. This fan shape allows for a wide building frontage that maximizes the marina view and guides different user groups to their destinations.

The building’s landscape is carefully planned to offer beautiful views of the surroundings. There are elevated areas where people can appreciate the river Xi and observation points that provide a connection to the peaceful Shenwan landscape. The design of the building ensures that these views can be enjoyed by the public without compromising the privacy of the residents or exclusive users.

The building features large, open spaces called “funnels” that serve as vertical connections with staircases. These funnels create a fluid and seamless transition through the building, transforming it from an obstacle to the waterfront into a permeable layer that facilitates movement between different levels. They also help organize the interior spaces without disrupting the building’s program.

Framing Views

The funnel spaces in the building allow for views of the nearby yachts and water, as well as the hilly landscape to the northeast of the site. It is important to frame these picturesque spots in order to create a strong connection between the inside and outside of the building. Additionally, during warmer periods, the funnels facilitate natural cross ventilation, providing a constant gentle breeze to cool the spaces.

Concept_Internal Funnels

Ben van Berkel: “The way the wind is guided through the building in order to cool down the interior is also metaphorically articulated in the design. Within the internal wind funnels, it is almost as though you can see the wind swirling around within the architecture that surrounds you.”

The atmosphere in these spaces is enhanced by natural light entering through a large skylight and the East and West openings. This creates a comfortable environment with a constant interplay between light and shadow. The wood paneling finishes in these areas are reminiscent of the luxury yachts that are docked nearby. They serve as a soft material in contrast to the hard carbon fiber bodies of the vessels.

Marina Clubhouse’s façade is made of bronze-colored aluminum panels, which draw inspiration from the colors, materials, and craftsmanship of modern speedboats and yachts. This bronze hue, commonly found in naval architecture, accentuates the building’s fluid and soft geometry.

The waterfront area of Marina Clubhouse has a fully glazed façade with glass fins for support. It features balconies that offer both views and shade to the glazed sections. The roof and balcony undersides are covered in mirror finishes that create a shimmering effect reminiscent of reflections on the water.

Marina Clubhouse serves as a central point for maritime lifestyle activities, providing a range of amenities for socializing, conducting business, and enjoying leisure and wellness. Within the clubhouse building, there are multiple restaurants, a members’ area, a spa, a gym, a KTV, and guestrooms.

The bridge is an essential route to Marina Clubhouse and waterfront. It is designed with separate paths for pedestrians and vehicles, prioritizing the pedestrian experience. The pedestrian path is located below the vehicle path, providing shelter from the view, fumes, and noise of cars. The bridge also includes multiple platforms for resting or enjoying the surroundings. Above the dyke, the handrail of the bridge transforms into a seating area, while the handrail of the vehicle path acts as a canopy.

Project Info:

Architects: UNStudio: Ben van Berkel, Hannes Pfau
Area: 30151 m²
Year: 2018
Photographs: Tom Roe
Manufacturers: Euramax, Jiangsu Retop Lighting Systems Engineering
Bridge Structure: AECOM
Landscape: B+H
Green Energy: Earth In Mind
Contractors: Huaren, King Facades, Gold Mantis, Beishan, x
Lighting: Lighting Images
Structure: P&T
MEP: Squire Mech Pte Ltd
Lifts: x
Facade: Hyder
Client: Sunsea Yacht Club
Project Team: Gordana Jakimovska, Joerg Lonkwitz, Adriana Rodriguez Ossio, Alexander Schramm, Alice Yi-Ting Chiu, Iris Pastor, Caroline Filice Smith, Jean Chaussavoine, Jun Wang, Irina Bogdan, Leo Xinyu Li, Gilles Greis, Alexander Meyers, Sam Jia Jun Ren, Tamim Salah EI Negm, Evan Jon Shieh, Rafael Carbonero Vicario
Team Members: Alan Chin-Che Hung, Fernie Lai, Maya Alam, Cristina Gimenez, Juergen Heinzel, Yeojoon Yoon, Yu-Chen Liu, Dan Luo, Edwin Hang Jiang, Yichi ZHANG, Fabian Alejandr Mazzola, Daniele De Benedictis, Yuwei Wang, Alberto Martinez Garcia, Huaiming Liao, Ana patricia Castaingts Gomez, Oliver Loesser, Craig Yan, Guomin Lin, Nathan Melenbrink, Duran Yuan Zhai, Margaret Juien-Hwang, Cecilia Hui, Earn Lee Chern, Lukas Allner, Justin Tao Cheng, Severin Ignaz Tuerk
City: Zhongshan
Country: China