Architecture

MAD's undulating seashell gets down to business in China

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The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center isn't officially complete yet but is already in use
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The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center takes its place very well among the rugged mountainous terrain
Agovision
The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center isn't officially complete yet but is already in use
Agovision
The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center's interior decor makes excellent use of wood
Agovision
The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center has a total floorspace of 16,198 sq m (roughly 175,000 sq ft)
Agovision
The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center is naturally lit with a large skylight
Agovision
The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center is fronted by generous glazing
ArchExist
The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center's overall form resembles a seashell
ArchExist
As well as a conference center, the Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center also contains an exhibition hall, meeting rooms, and a television hall
ArchExist
"Nestled among Yabuli’s mountainous terrain, MAD’s scheme evokes the concept of a tent sitting at the foot of a mountain, with its soft, curving, silver-white rooftop echoing the snow-capped hills surrounding it," says MAD
ArchExist
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Looking a bit like a strange oversized seashell among the snowy mountains of northeast China, MAD Architects' Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center does a fine job showcasing the firm's trademark futuristic curving style. The project, underway since 2017, is now almost complete.

The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center is located in the same province as MAD's Harbin Opera House and there are echoes of that superb project in this one too. It's defined by a white undulating exterior and has a cavernous wooden interior that's naturally illuminated with a skylight, as well as carefully positioned glazing that frames the view. The firm itself likens the building's design to an tent, and it takes its place very well indeed in the mountainous terrain.

"Nestled among Yabuli's mountainous terrain, MAD's scheme evokes the concept of a tent sitting at the foot of a mountain, with its soft, curving, silver-white rooftop echoing the snow-capped hills surrounding it," says its press release. "During the day, natural light floods the internal spaces through a giant glass skylight. At night, the same skylight allows a warm glow to soar from the building into the cold mountain forest, evoking the image of a campfire around which entrepreneurs share ideas, thoughts, and stories. Inside, a blend of wooden walls and natural light create a warm, soft atmosphere, while an outdoor public plaza and glass walkway allow users to marvel and be inspired by the connection between architecture and nature."

The Yabuli Entrepreneurs' Congress Center is naturally lit with a large skylight
Agovision

The building reaches a maximum height of 23.3 m (76.4 ft) and has a total floorspace of 16,198 sq m (roughly 175,000 sq ft). As well as the conference center, it also contains an exhibition hall, meeting rooms, and a television hall.

Though it's not quite officially completed yet, the venue is now in use and has already hosted its first summit of 600 entrepreneurs.

Source: MAD

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