Tsing Tao Pearl Visitor Center
Tsing Tao Pearl Visitor Center The visitor center represents an international collaboration to reintroduce wood construction in China. The showcase structure reinterprets historic precedent using modern materials and innovation to accommodate current Chinese culture. Independent lectures by both the architect and engineer at a respected Chinese University advocating the potential of wood design led to the initial contact for the project. The primary interest in reintroducing timber into Chinese construction typologies was based on wood being a renewable material and sustainable strategy. After visiting the site and noting the precedent of traditional Chinese architecture composed of stone plinths and curved roof forms, a building with a heavy stone base and cloudlike roof was sketched. Three key locations were identified in the building; the entry point, the sales desk, and the tea bar and from each of these positions the undulation of the roof frames the view of the Pearl Hill ridge line. A forest of columns reminds the visitor of the bamboo groves of the entry drive. Native vegetation on the roof further mimics the site in color and texture. The program of the building starts its life as a marketing center and tea bar. As the development sells its homes the building will be converted into a visitor center and restaurant for both residents and public visitors to the Pearl Hill Located in Qingdao, China 22,000 SF
Preserve, with its extensive trail system for hikers, pedestrians and bicycles. After initial discussions with the client made clear the 234 day timeframe and existing technologies would not allow for extensive manipulation of heavy timber or time intensive engineered wood solutions, a practical decision was made to use local technologies and methods for quick and cost effective construction of the stone base. The team devised a novel new approach to a very old method of side nailed straight 2x dimensional wood by juxtaposing each member ever so slightly against the next to create a purposeful twist in the panel, forming a series of large undulations in the roof plane. The team needed to then invent technology to accommodate the tolerances necessary to marry the roof and pedestal into a visually cohesive piece of architecture. The roof’s independence from the base permitted precious additional time for development of the wood systems. To accommodate the tolerances required in the site fabricated panels a 360-degree universal column connector, inspired by automotive drive-shafts, was invented to allow for field positioning of the columns while maintaining axial loads through the bases.
Approaching the site, Pearl Hill is framed between a dense bamboo grove and the visitor center’s floating roof.
The gently undulating roof form of the visitor center rests at the base of Pearl Hill.
4. VIP Lounge 5. VIP Room
1. Open To Below 2. Conference Room 3. Offices 4. VIP Lounge 5. VIP Room 1. Reception 2. Site Model 2 3. Site Model 1 4. Region Model 5. Outdoor Terrace 6. Visitor/Sales Lounge 5 7. Tea Bar4 1. Reception 8. Retail 2. Site Model 2 9. Sales Lounge 3. Site Model 1 10. Theater 4. Region Model 11. WC 5. Outdoor Terrace 112. A/V Room 6. Visitor/Sales Lounge 13. Water Feature 7. Tea Bar 8. Retail 9. Sales Lounge 2 3 10. Theater 11. WC 5 12. A/V Room 7 Water Feature 13.
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1. Reception 2. Site Model 2 5 4 3. Site Model 1 4. Region Model 5. Outdoor Terrace 6. Visitor/Sales Lounge 7. Tea Bar 8. Retail 9. Sales Lounge 10. Theater 11. WC 12. A/V Room 13. Water Feature
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Wood Structure And Roof
Transparent Enclosure
Stone Base
Building Elements Exploded Axonometric
Universal column bases allow for varied column angles.
50mm Dia. Solid Steel Pin
168mm Dia. Steel Pipe Welded to Round Plate and Lagged Into Glulam Column. 89 mm Dia. Steel Outer Pipe Threaded Cap
73mm Dia. Steel Inner Pipe
Base Plate 168mm Dia. Steel Pipe Welded to Base Plate
Column Connection Detail
Post tensioned cables and wood posts create three dimensional trussing to support roof spans.
Preserve, with its extensive trail system for hikers, pedestrians and bicycles. After initial discussions with the client made clear the 234 day timeframe and existing technologies would not allow for extensive manipulation of heavy timber or time intensive engineered wood solutions, a practical decision was made to use local technologies and methods for quick and cost effective construction of the stone base. The team devised a novel new approach to a very old method of side nailed straight 2x dimensional wood by juxtaposing each member ever so slightly against the next to create a purposeful twist in the panel, forming a series of large undulations in the roof plane. The team needed to then invent technology to accommodate the tolerances necessary to marry the roof and pedestal into a visually cohesive piece of architecture. The roof’s independence from the base permitted precious additional time for development of the wood systems. To accommodate the tolerances required in the site fabricated panels a 360-degree universal column connector, inspired by automotive drive-shafts, was invented to allow for field positioning of the columns while maintaining axial loads through the bases.
Approaching the site, Pearl Hill is framed between a dense bamboo grove and the visitor center’s floating roof.
The gently undulating roof form of the visitor center rests at the base of Pearl Hill.
4. VIP Lounge 5. VIP Room
1. Open To Below 2. Conference Room 3. Offices 4. VIP Lounge 5. VIP Room 1. Reception 2. Site Model 2 3. Site Model 1 4. Region Model 5. Outdoor Terrace 6. Visitor/Sales Lounge 5 7. Tea Bar4 1. Reception 8. Retail 2. Site Model 2 9. Sales Lounge 3. Site Model 1 10. Theater 4. Region Model 11. WC 5. Outdoor Terrace 112. A/V Room 6. Visitor/Sales Lounge 13. Water Feature 7. Tea Bar 8. Retail 9. Sales Lounge 2 3 10. Theater 11. WC 5 12. A/V Room 7 Water Feature 13.
1
2
3
Mezzanine Level
Mezzanine Level 0
2500
5000
10000
15000
5 4
3 2
6 1
4
5 12
Mezzanine Level
3
0
2500
5000
10000
11
8
10
11
9
15000
2
6
13 5 7
1 12 Main Level 0
2500
5000
4 10000
15000
11
5 8
10
11
9
3 2
Main Level 0
5000
Main Level
10000
1. Reception 2. Site Model 2 5 4 3. Site Model 1 4. Region Model 5. Outdoor Terrace 6. Visitor/Sales Lounge 7. Tea Bar 8. Retail 9. Sales Lounge 10. Theater 11. WC 12. A/V Room 13. Water Feature
6
13
5 7
1 15000
12
11
11
10
8
Wood Structure And Roof
Transparent Enclosure
Stone Base
Building Elements Exploded Axonometric
Universal column bases allow for varied column angles.
50mm Dia. Solid Steel Pin
168mm Dia. Steel Pipe Welded to Round Plate and Lagged Into Glulam Column. 89 mm Dia. Steel Outer Pipe Threaded Cap
73mm Dia. Steel Inner Pipe
Base Plate 168mm Dia. Steel Pipe Welded to Base Plate
Column Connection Detail
Post tensioned cables and wood posts create three dimensional trussing to support roof spans.
