The Exhibition Center of CANNANO by HOT DESIGN: A Landmark of Nanotechnology and Architectural Innovation

The Exhibition Center of CANNANO, designed by HOT DESIGN, stands as a striking new landmark within the CANNANO Park in Guangzhou’s Huangpu District. Situated at the north intersection of Hulin Middle Road and Zhujiang North Road, this state-of-the-art exhibition facility redefines the architectural landscape with its bold structural expression, advanced material application, and visionary spatial concept. Completed in 2024, the project encompasses 4,158.99 square meters, establishing a world-class destination for nanotechnology exhibitions, academic exchange, and public engagement.

A Signature Dome Structure Shaping the Park’s Central Plaza

Positioned at the heart of the park’s central landscape plaza, the Exhibition Center takes the form of a dome-like structure featuring a diameter of approximately 39 meters and a height of 21 meters. Its sculptural presence creates an iconic silhouette visible from multiple city vantage points.

The building comprises a 992.63-square-meter basement designated for equipment and utilities, while the three above-ground levels totaling 3,166.36 square meters host a range of public functions including exhibition halls, reception zones, conference rooms, and a media platform. Its program is strategically designed to support research showcase events, external exhibitions, and international press releases, reinforcing Guangzhou's aspiration to create a globally influential nanotechnology hub.

A Dual Structural System Inspired by Nature

One of the Exhibition Center’s most groundbreaking features is its dual structural system, integrating a glulam (glued laminated timber) latticed shell with a robust steel frame core.

The Glulam Latticed Shell, A Symbol of Scientific Growth

The spherical glulam shell draws inspiration from the “sequoia tree”, an architectural metaphor for strength, endurance, and interconnected growth. Originating from the core of the site, the timber grid expands outward and upward, forming a geometric profile reminiscent of an “apple core.” This expression captures the building’s conceptual essence: a unified structure where disciplines, research teams, and innovative ideas converge, support each other, and extend outward into new academic horizons.

This intricate wooden lattice not only creates an immersive spatial quality but also reinforces sustainability, celebrating renewable materials and advanced fabrication technologies.

The Steel Structural System, Creating Flexible, Column-Free Spaces

Complementing the timber shell is a steel frame structure featuring three core tubes, each spaced 120 degrees apart, housing staircases and service rooms. These vertical structural systems enable the upper slabs on the second and third floors to cantilever, generating expansive column-free interiors that enhance spatial openness, visual clarity, and exhibition flexibility.

This integration of steel and timber demonstrates HOT DESIGN’s mastery of structural innovation, merging engineering precision with organic spatial expression.

Functional Spaces Designed for Exhibition, Learning, and Exchange

First Floor, Immersive Exhibition Hall

The ground level is dedicated to the primary exhibition program, organized into five themed zones:

• Introduction Hall
• Innovation
• Entrepreneurship
• Creation
• Dream Creation

Each section is designed to immerse visitors in the evolving world of nanotechnology, presenting achievements, prototypes, and future visions through interactive and narrative-driven displays.

Second Floor, Academic and Cultural Exchange

The second level accommodates various meeting and educational spaces, including:

• Academic conference rooms
• A multifunctional hall for party-building activities
• An open reading and book lounge

These spaces support small to medium-sized academic events, public learning programs, and ceremonial activities.

Third Floor, 360° Panoramic Media Platform

The top floor offers a 360-degree indoor viewing platform, providing expansive views of CANNANO Park and the surrounding cityscape. This level includes:

• Media release area
• Coffee and water bar
• Salon and discussion zone

This multifunctional setting is ideal for press conferences, networking, and informal exchanges in a visually engaging environment.

A New Cultural and Scientific Icon for Guangzhou

The Exhibition Center of CANNANO is more than a functional facility, it is a symbolic architectural statement. Its fusion of sustainable materials, innovative structural engineering, and programmatic richness positions it as a global benchmark for nanotechnology exhibition architecture. HOT DESIGN’s vision not only enhances the cultural landscape of Guangzhou but sets a new precedent for architectural expression in scientific campuses worldwide.

All photographs are works of Junnan Liu