The Xingcheng Exhibition Garden by Archermit
The 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Exposition, took place from April 26 to October 28 in Chengdu’s Eastern New District, and showcased a unique blend of horticulture, cultural identity, and innovative design. Focused on green development and harmonious living, the exposition seeks to merge international standards with distinctly Chinese elements and the charm of Chengdu, creating a celebration that resonates with modern aspirations and poetic traditions.
The Xingcheng Exhibition Garden by Archermit exemplifies this vision, drawing from the Western Sichuan Garden tradition, deeply rooted in the region’s cultural and aesthetic heritage. These gardens emphasize simplicity, elegance, and tranquility, reflecting an innate harmony with nature. The entrance, marked by a Dragon Gate of grey tiles nestled in a bamboo grove, invites visitors into a serene world. Designed like an unfolding book, it sets the stage for a narrative of natural beauty and human connection.
At the heart of the garden stands a striking architectural feature inspired by the lotus and bamboo, two iconic elements of Western Sichuan landscapes. The building, shaped like a graceful lotus leaf, appears to float above a serene pond, with its bamboo-inspired structure fanning out like veins. The light, curving roof draws from traditional Western Sichuan folk houses, incorporating sloping lines, long eaves, and delicate tiles in a stylized and dramatic manner. The hollowed center of the roof serves as a rainwater collector, channeling water into the pond below and symbolizing the flow of talent and innovation.
The exhibition hall’s transparent glass walls dissolve the boundary between indoors and outdoors, amplifying the presence of the central bamboo grove. Visitors are immersed in a seamless interplay of forests, water, and architecture, with sunken floors offering a perspective that aligns the viewer’s gaze with the reflective water surface. This integration of elements underscores the theme of “Park City • Beautiful Habitat,” promoting sustainability and inclusivity through innovative design.
Archermit, the design team behind the “Bamboo Lotus,” utilized advanced parametric technologies to execute the complex steel structure and bamboo installations. Although initial plans for a hybrid bamboo structure evolved due to logistical constraints, the team retained bamboo as a key decorative and structural element. Recycled materials and traditional craftsmanship, such as handmade rattan furniture, further ground the design in the cultural and ecological ethos of Western Sichuan.
Through this thoughtful integration of nature, culture, and innovation, the Xingcheng Exhibition Garden aims to leave a lasting impression, encapsulating the poetic spirit of Western Sichuan and offering a vibrant narrative for the 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Expo.
Photography: Arch-Exist Photography, Archermit, Chengdu Tianfu Greenway Construction; courtesy of Archermit, shared with permission
