Chengdu Tianfu City Planning Hall by AND Studio: A Feathered Landmark in the Wetlands of Tianfu New Area

Nestled within the ecological expanse of Chengdu’s Tianfu New Area, the Chengdu Tianfu City Planning Hall by AND Studio reimagines how civic architecture can harmonize with the natural landscape. Perched lightly on a wetland hill and surrounded by rivers, woodlands, and shallow hills, the 1,190-square-meter structure stands as a cultural landmark—one that bridges tradition, nature, and future-forward sustainability.

Blending Architecture with Nature

Strategically situated along Tianfu Avenue, the central axis of Chengdu’s southern district, the Planning Hall dissolves the boundary between architecture and environment. The elevated base and colonnaded eaves invite visitors to stroll beneath, while the expansive hidden-frame glass curtain wall brings the outside in, merging sweeping vistas of greenery and lake views with an immersive interior experience. An internal bamboo courtyard further enhances the connection to the outdoors, allowing sunlight to filter into the atrium and reinforcing a feeling of tranquility.

An Avian-Inspired Form: The Wild Goose Metaphor

Lead architect Wang Ning conceptualized the building as a symbolic wild goose, mid-flight and gently resting on the hillside. Rather than opting for a conventional glass volume, the design introduces an abstract, feather-like form—porous, breathable, and resonant with its pastoral context. “If the architecture is just a glass box,” Ning explains, “it would have no presence from a distance, and the reflective surfaces would feel out of place in a farmyard. We wanted an imagined body, one that sunlight and sight could cross—like bird feathers.”

The curved rooftop, seen from afar against the backdrop of wetlands, completes the imagery—fluid, organic, and delicately embedded into its ecological surroundings.

Interior Experience and Elevated Perspective

From the second-floor platform, visitors can absorb panoramic views of the Tianfu Cultural and Creative City, while the partially accessible rooftop provides a 360-degree visual experience of the district’s evolving urban fabric. The structure becomes a vantage point for understanding both the city's future planning and the role of architecture in supporting that vision.

Inside, light filters through a sculptural ceiling built from modular wood-bamboo cross members, crafted through a low-carbon, sustainable process rooted in traditional Sichuanese material culture. Bamboo is transformed into laminated wooden elements, forming a layered timber-frame system of 20 columns and nearly 30,000 pendants—each assembled through an intricate system of mortise-and-tenon joints.

Local Materials, Global Vision

The use of bamboo, a deeply symbolic and widely available local material, speaks to a larger commitment to sustainable architecture and regional identity. The ceiling’s texture and warmth contrast elegantly with the minimalist clarity of the curtain walls, producing a balance of organic form and contemporary detailing. The craftsmanship, refined over many design iterations, reflects both modern construction techniques and an enduring respect for local traditions.