Steven Holl, Ecocity Ecology + Planning Museums, Tianjin

Architect Steven Holl has been asked to design two buildings for what is to be China?s first ecological city, Tianjin Eco City, 150 km from Beijing.
As a whole, the two projects by Steven Holl appear to focus on the Chinese concept of Yin and Yang. The two buildings, facing one another across a pool of water, complement one another: the Ecology Museum occupies the volumes left empty by the Planning Museum.
The architect designed a downward exhibition route for the Ecology Museum in which a series of ramps lead from Earth to Cosmos, Earth to Man and Earth to Earth; from here visitors go on to the Ocean Ecology Exhibition underneath the pool of water separating the two buildings.

The Tianjin Eco City project is being implemented by the Chinese government in collaboration with Singapore. Work began in 2008 and is due to be completed in 2020, when the city will house 350 thousand people in a total of 30 square kilometres.

(Agnese Bifulco)

Design: Steven Holl Architects
Images: courtesy of Steven Holl Architects
Location: Tianjin Eco City, China

www.stevenholl.com
www.tianjinecocity.gov.sg