Hand it to the pandas...

You’ve got to hand it to pandas. Those guys know a lot about bamboo. So it’s only natural then that a new landmark designed and built for a giant panda breeding site should be inspired by their favourite meal. Take a look at ‘Panda Tower’ in Chengdu

© All Photos by SIMON, and Arch-Exist

Designed by UDG Atelier Alpha, the Panda Tower is a new cultural landmark for the giant panda Breeding’s new site. Integrating observation, exhibition, and sightseeing, the building serves as a piece of art that celebrates the union of nature and technology.

The tower draws its inspiration from bamboo shoots . An impressive 11 stories high, the tower contains large observation platforms looking out to the park at each level, while the floor slabs and buttresses are completely exposed due to the lack of curtain walls and gratings.

The pedals of the Chengdu city flower, the hibiscus, exerted a strong influence to make up the floor slabs and arced structure units. The number of pedal slabs reduces arithmetically from the bottom of the tower to the top. My mouth actually fell open at this stunning interior.

The top of the Panda Tower’s curtain wall system features a mechanical system that opens the façade units according to programmed angles and speed, while the top of the tower is designed to open and bloom on special occasions such as the birth of new panda or the homecoming of Giant Pandas from overseas zoos.

Queen Marie

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