TAO: riverside clubhouse

‘riverside clubhouse’ by TAO, yancheng, jiangsu, china image © yao li / all images courtesy of TAO

recently completed by beijing-based practice TAO, short for ‘trace architecture office’, the ‘riverside clubhouse’ is adjacent to a river, park and sports field in yancheng, jiangsu, china. the zigzagging horizontal structure ensures close contact with nature, integrating the visitor and architecture into the tranquil landscape. by stretching, looping and folding the form, the interior experience provides better viewing angles, private courtyards and an accessible roof. floating above the water’s edge and paralleling the sloping terrain, the structure rests upon thin columns atop pile foundations, managing the soft soil conditions.

east facade image © yao li

minimum floor thicknesses and column are used to emphasize the building’s lightness. low iron glass and white aluminum panels maintain a blanched external appearance while travertine floors, precast concrete and translucent glass partitions are found in the internal material palette. open-air voids created by the plan’s configuration allow thin plant stalks to pass through the floor plates, receiving natural daylight and growing towards the sky.

main entranceimage © yao li

west facadeimage © yao li

view from the northwestimage © yao li

roof viewimage © yao li

roof viewimage © yao li

roof viewimage © yao li

roof entranceimage © yao li

courtyard view from roodimage © yao li

rampimage © yao li

stairimage © yao li

stairimage © yao li

rampimage © yao li

terrace to riverimage © yao li

‘riverside clubhouse’ by TAO. yancheng, jiangsu, chinaimage © yao li

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

section

section

model

conceptual diagram

structural diagram

circulation diagram

sketch

sketch

project info:

project name: riverside clubhouse location: yancheng, jiangsu, china program: exhibition, reception, lounge, multimedia, meeting, office floor area: 500 sq. m. design: 2009,11-2010,4 construction: 2010,5-2010,10 client: zhongti corp. architect: hua li / tao (trace architecture office) design team: hua li, zhang feng structural engineer: ma zhigang mep engineer: lv jianjun, lian kanglong structural system: steel structure on pile foundation exterior wall: low iron glass frameless glazing, aluminum, precast concrete panel. floor: travertine photographer: yao li