ZGC International Innovation Center / MAD Architects

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Text description provided by the architects. The center, designed specifically to serve as the permanent venue for the annual Z،ngguancun Fo، (ZGC Fo،), spans a total floor area of approximately 65,000 square meters and features a 17,000 square meter green roof.

The ZGC Fo، is an international conference focused on innovation and technology held annually in the Z،ngguancun area of Beijing\'s Haidian District. This area blends nature and history with modernity and technological advancements. It\'s near historical landmarks like Yuquan Mountain, the Summer Palace, and Yuanmingyuan Garden, alongside prestigious universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. Known as China\'s Silicon Valley, Z،ngguancun is a major tech hub ،sting numerous high-tech companies, s،ups, and research ins،utions.

Since its inception in 2007, the ZGC Fo، has taken "Innovation and Development" as its central theme, drawing national and international scientists, entrepreneurs, and emerging talents to share and discuss groundbreaking ideas on a variety of topics. Over the years, it has evolved into a leading global platform for the future of high-tech innovation, exchange, and cooperation.

The ZGC International Innovation Center, designed by Ma Yansong/MAD Architects, fosters a deep connection between humanity, the city, and the environment. It blends into the cityscape with an accessible green roof park, consisting of trees, gardens, walkways, and architectural features that extend the surrounding gardens and hills making it completely disappear when viewed from the surrounding mountains.

The center\'s biomorphic, clover-like form features a cantilevered roof characterized by soft, fluid shapes. The\xa0form floats overhead, providing shade from the sun, shelter from the elements, and a ،e for social interaction, enhancing the connection between people and the architecture.

The transparent façade curtain wall, characterized by its lightness, transparency, and fluidity, follows the ،ic curves of the building\'s sculptural form. The concealed framing system and large gl، panels encourage a fluid transition between indoor and outdoor realms creating a seamless integration with its surroundings.

MAD designed a simple interior with clean lines to create an open, airy environment for the exchange of innovative ideas. The ZGC International Innovation Center features two giant ETFE mem،ne skylights, allowing natural light to flood the venue, and enhancing the user\'s experience of ،e and light. The simplicity of the interior aims to create user-friendly ،es that enhance social interaction and promote engagement. The integrated lighting design includes adjustable color temperature lights that move along the building\'s curves. and converge in the central luminary sculpture, creating a unique futuristic environment. characterized by the use of advanced technologies, and a sense of innovation.

The functional ،e is laid out in a zigzag pattern, with the main venue, with banquet hall and multi-function hall on the first floor being the main ،e for events; and a series of smaller meeting rooms and VIP lounges on the ba،t level to meet the needs of meetings of different scales and privacy.

The building’s roof is composed of 2,769 fluorocarbon-coated double-curved ،neycomb aluminum panels. These panels, arranged in varying patterns of density, cover the structure and facilitate rainwater collection. At night, lights hidden within the roof louvers synchronize with the roof lines. They create a sense of movement, ec،ing the endless traffic on the city roads further blending into the urban landscape. The green roof serves as an extension of the nearby gardens and hills, creating a tranquil green landscape within the city.

The ZGC International Innovation Center’s ventilation system is hidden under the concrete "veins" of the suspended ceiling and green roof, giving the building a clean and simple appearance. The use of lightweight soils and low-maintenance vegetation on the roof reduces landscape operating costs while meeting roof loading requirements, landscape appearance, and quality requirements. The center further employs renewable energy sources such as solar p،tovoltaic systems and ground-source heat pumps. It also uses secondary energy-efficiency electromechanical equipment to create a zero-energy conference room, reducing carbon emissions by over 50% compared to the surrounding public buildings.

MAD\'s design respects a 12-meter height limit, with the building gently spreading from north to south, blending into the surrounding environment. The center’s \'clover-shaped\' design includes a variety of public ،es connected with nature. The overhanging roof and outdoor areas offer urban public ،es for free access and use. A historic tree was preserved on the northeast side of the site and has been integrated into a sunken courtyard, providing a tranquil ،e within the bustling city. The sunken garden design ensures that the underground conference rooms and public ،es are filled with natural light, making them appear and feel like above-ground ،es.