Jingdezhen Taoxichuan Cloud Engine Energy Center by XING DESIGN: Where Infrastructure Meets Art

The Jingdezhen Taoxichuan Cloud Engine Energy Center, designed by XING DESIGN, is a pioneering example of how industrial infrastructure can coexist harmoniously with urban green spaces. Located in the heart of Jingdezhen’s vibrant Taoxichuan Cultural and Creative Street, the energy center serves as a functional hub providing heating, cooling, water pressure, and electricity for a dynamic cluster of cultural and creative institutions, while remaining visually integrated into the surrounding parkland.

Transforming a Historic Industrial Site

Taoxichuan, once home to the state-owned Cosmos Ceramics Factory and Ceramic Machinery Factory, has been revitalized since 2012 as a national hub for cultural innovation and entrepreneurship. Under the guidance of Professor Zhang Jie from Tsinghua University, the area evolved into a nighttime tourist destination and creative enclave hosting artists, craftsmen, and cultural events. However, as the first phase of Taoxichuan opened in 2019, the infrastructure lagged behind its growing ambitions. Electrical capacity was limited, water pressure was insufficient, and scattered utility units disrupted the park’s open space.

To address these challenges, the client envisioned a centralized energy center that could efficiently manage resources while minimizing its visual impact on the green landscape. The solution would not just house mechanical systems: it would become an architectural landmark blending technology, sustainability, and public space.

Innovative Design: A Cloud Above the Grass

Rather than a conventional industrial box, XING DESIGN split the building into two distinct parts. The underground level accommodates the cooling units, power distribution, boilers, and fire water tanks, seamlessly integrated beneath a grassy slope. Above ground, seven cooling towers and the control center form a dramatic wedge-shaped canopy, providing shade and creating a natural observation platform for park visitors.

This split-volume approach preserves the park’s open space while allowing the energy center to function at full capacity. The north elevation facing the street reveals bold industrial aesthetics, showcasing pipes and equipment as architectural elements. Conversely, the park-facing side features soft, organic curves, with the control center and meeting rooms sculpted within the truss structure. Wind-driven scales, designed to ripple in the breeze, were planned to animate the suspended canopy, earning the project its evocative name: Cloud Engine.

Seamless Integration with Context

XING DESIGN carefully positioned the Cloud Engine to respect its surroundings. The building’s northward shift ensured that views from neighboring projects, such as Jingyang Camphor Court by Vector Architects, remained unobstructed. The terrain was used strategically to control perspectives from the nearby Guomao Hotel, ensuring the energy center’s presence is dramatic yet unobtrusive.

Technology Meets Aesthetic

The energy center’s mechanical systems include three 2200RT and one 1100RT variable-frequency centrifugal chillers, paired with seven large cooling towers. Heating is provided by three 5.6MW gas hot water boilers, supplemented by two 1.4MW daily-use gas boilers. The architectural grid and piping layout were carefully tailored to accommodate these technical requirements, ensuring seamless coordination between architectural, structural, and mechanical systems. Parametric modeling and wind tunnel testing were employed to optimize performance while maintaining a visually striking form.

In a rare move for industrial architecture, XING DESIGN celebrates the beauty of mechanical logic, exposing equipment in a structured yet elegant way. Functional labels in both Chinese and English, such as “Cold” on water pipes and “Repair” on maintenance access points, transform the facade into an operational narrative, merging industrial function with architectural expression.

Challenges and Future Potential

The project faced delays and adaptations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during exterior construction. Some design elements, such as the wind-driven scales beneath the canopy, remain unrealized. Using 3D scanning and prototyping, the team documented tolerances for future installation, leaving open the possibility of completing the “mechanical cloud” as a kinetic art installation.

Redefining Public Infrastructure

The Jingdezhen Taoxichuan Cloud Engine Energy Center demonstrates how infrastructure can transcend functionality, becoming an integral part of urban life and cultural landscapes. It reflects a philosophy where engineering, architecture, and public space converge, transforming the ordinary utility building into an architectural icon. The project is a reminder that today’s extraordinary design can become tomorrow’s everyday experience.

All photographs are works of Schran Image, Yi Li