Architects: BUZZ/ Büro Ziyu Zhuang
Area: 4200 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Shengliang Su
Engineering: 3rd Construction Co., Ltd. of China Construction 5th Engineering Bureau
Interior Design: BUZZ/Büro Ziyu Zhuang
Category: Restaurants & Bars, Restaurant & Bar Interiors
Principal Designer: Ziyu Zhuang, Zhengdong Qi, Na Li
Architectural Team: Wei Zhao, Yi Shi, Yintong Li, Yu Zhao, Jing Li, Hongyu Fan
Interior Team: Xin Zhao, Wutian Sun, Wei Cai, Chen Liang, Zhujing Ding
Structure Consultant: Peter Li
Soft Decoration: Jiatong Xu
Clients: Tianfu Investment Group Co., Ltd.
Construction Drawings: China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Medical Engineering: 3rd Construction Co., Ltd. of China Construction 5th Engineering Bureau
City: Chengdu
Country: China
Longquan Mountain Observatory public project by BUZZ / Büro Ziyu Zhuang in Chengdu, China occupies the city’s highest point and introduces a landscape-integrated architectural form that blends with the mountainous terrain. Rather than rising abruptly, the building appears as an extension of the ground, with a fluid horizontal composition echoing the Chengdu Plain. Its layout follows a series of interconnected courtyards shaped by changing topography, each offering distinct spatial and visual conditions. A winding roof surface adapts to elevation changes, forming a pedestrian path and viewing platform, and is paved with natural stones designed to support gradual vegetation growth. Functional spaces such as a multi-purpose hall, restaurant, and auxiliary areas are concealed within the site. The design combines strong visual identity with environmental sensitivity, resembling a spaceship from certain angles while maintaining harmony with the forested mountain context.
The Longquan Mountain Observatory, located at the highest point in Chengdu, is designed to function as a seamless extension of the landscape. To achieve this integration, the architecture employs artificial strategies that engage in dialogue with the expansive surroundings, allowing the building to emerge gradually from the mountains rather than standing out abruptly. The structure presents a horizontal orientation that reflects the broad and level character of the Chengdu Plain. It is made up of a sequence of horizontally aligned surfaces at varying elevations, all interconnected in a continuous and unified flow.
The floor plan unfolds through a sequence of courtyards, adapting to changes in elevation to establish distinct spatial identities throughout the site. The specific placement of each courtyard creates a variety of contrasting visual experiences. The roof follows the site’s natural topography, forming a winding pedestrian pathway that eventually transitions into an open viewing platform nestled between the mountains.
The roof is surfaced with natural stones of varying sizes, and over time, vegetation is expected to grow along the gaps between the stones. This gradual process will enable the building to evolve subtly, taking on the appearance of a natural mountain surface.
The continuous water surface beneath the roof, where the landscaped pool and the main pool merge, reflects the sky’s color and allows the edge of the water to visually dissolve into the distant horizon. Behind this reflective surface, the multi-purpose hall and the pool’s auxiliary features are set back, preserving an unobstructed view of the pool. The restaurant shares this open perspective, framed by the landscaped pools, with its primary volume extending slightly beyond the mountain to enhance the viewing experience. Service areas, including logistic functions, are tucked beneath the eaves or discreetly integrated into the landscape.
The architecture possesses a distinct character and identity, appearing from certain angles like a spaceship or an alien form poised for launch. At the same time, it maintains a restrained presence that neither disrupts nor conflicts with the surrounding natural environment, instead resembling a fold in the terrain or a suspended bridge within the forest, discreetly integrated and largely concealed from view.
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Project Location
Address: Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
