[ BURO II + CITIC ] Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center

Architects: BURO II & Design Institute of China CITIC
Location: Guangzhou, China
Structural Design : Laurent Ney & Partners (Belgium)
Landscape Design: Stefaan Thiers en Denis Dujardin (Belgium)
Facade Engineering: Van Santen & Ass. (France)
Interior Design: Lens°Ass (Belgium)
Project Year: 2007
Photographs: Philippe van Gelooven

This project recently won the civic category at the World Architecture Festival

The local authority of Guangzhou decided to develop a congress centre at the edge of the historical landscape of the Baiyun Mountains. The new congress centre will function as generator for the further urban development of the city of Guangzhou.

The congress centre is integrated in a system of physical and visually open connections between the city and the mountains. The primary principle is the merging of landscape and building. The ‘fingers of nature’ penetrate the site; the mountains are brought into the city.

exploted diagram
The concept is an open modular system of flexible spaces. Functions are grouped through the horizontal and vertical modulation. The horizontal modules house general services, foyers, catering exhibition space, VIP areas, offices… The vertical modules are meant for specific facilities, including a congress hall for 2500 people.