Project Description
Some would say Tianjin, China is not such a beautiful city. Much of it consists of nondescript industrial buildings and car-clogged streets under smoggy skies. But the city is also full of surprises. Tucked away amid the endless industrial sprawl, inside the Vision Hill building complex in the Tianjin Hi-Tech Area, Nankai District, is an unexpected oasis.
Bamboo Square, designed by Beijing-based architect Li Ji, is a one-of-a-kind structure. Made almost entirely of thin sheets of bamboo grown in China, the undulating lines and naturalness of the wooden material stand in stark contrast to the rigid steel-and-stone office buildings surrounding it. The architect chose bamboo specifically because it offers psychological relief from the monotony of China’s urban spaces. It’s a smart choice for a plaza where people can take a break from their busy work life and experience the peacefulness of nature, as well as see cultural performances and outdoor exhibitions of various kinds.
But besides Bamboo Square’s function as a spot for people to unwind, perform and share, it also has a symbolic meaning. The toughness, flexibility and natural origins of the bamboo material mimic the lives of many Chinese people: they grow up in the natural environment of the countryside, become educated and later come to the city to find a job. During this process they have to remain both tough and flexible, and adapt to their new environment, just like the bamboo in the square has been moved from its home in the mountains and shaped into a different form while maintaining its gentle, natural essence.
In fact, the design of Bamboo Square is fully adapted to its surroundings. Originally, the space was a flat concrete block with six unsightly entrances to an underground parking lot protruding from it. The parking lot still exists, as do the bulky entrances to it, but they’ve since been transformed by Li into six “hills” of bamboo, each of which can be climbed via wraparound bamboo steps and provides a birds-eye view of the landscape. In the middle of these six bamboo hills, the focal point of the square is a large oblong-shaped swath of grass resembling a giant green footprint, bordered by circular tracks of bamboo that rise to an outer ring of grass. It’s the perfect spot to have a picnic or romp around with friends in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city.
Bamboo Square is currently a work in progress, but is set to be finished by October of this year. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the most uplifting and elegant spaces in urban China.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact CJ Heise at: cjhj17@gmail.com.