The Planning Exhibition Center of Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone, Chongqing by Tanghua Architect & Associates

The Planning Exhibition Center of Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone in Chongqing, designed by Tanghua Architect & Associates, is an architectural landmark that merges innovation, ecology, and cultural heritage. Completed in 2022, the 5,190-square-meter project functions as the “living room” of the Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone, welcoming visitors with its unique design inspired by the Yangtze River and Jialing River confluence—a symbol deeply rooted in Chongqing’s identity.

Location and Concept

Situated on a hilltop overlooking Mingyue Lake, the exhibition center occupies a strategic position in the 6.8-square-kilometer core area of the Liangjiang Innovation Zone. Surrounded by lush bamboo forests, cliffs, and panoramic views, the site demanded sensitivity to scale and integration with the natural environment. Instead of imposing a massive structure, the architects dispersed the building functions across the landscape, ensuring harmony with the terrain.

The main circular exhibition hall embodies fluidity and continuity, symbolizing the meeting of rivers. Varying roof heights articulate the program, creating visual rhythms that break away from monotonous envelope architecture.

Spatial Design and Circulation

Visitors begin their journey through a narrow bamboo forest trail, experiencing compression and intimacy before emerging into expansive views of the lake and mountains. Entering through a modest 2.1-meter-high gate, they are dramatically welcomed by a soaring 19-meter-high exhibition hall.

The circular plan accommodates flexible functions:

• Exhibition spaces showcasing the master plan of the Liangjiang Innovation Zone.
• Meeting rooms, offices, and a café strategically placed along the cliffside to maximize lake views.
• Vertical circulation cores that enhance flow and connectivity.
• Cantilevering platforms extending up to 12 meters, creating dynamic viewing terraces.

The exhibition hall itself integrates a 17-meter-high vertical wall for urban planning models, transforming the traditional display method into an immersive architectural feature.

Materiality and Façade

The façade is defined by fair-faced concrete panels with vertical grooves and rough textures, echoing the raw elegance of natural stone and reinforcing the sculptural form of the building. By adopting a consistent 4.3-meter panel module, the architects balanced construction efficiency with design expression. The restrained color palette of light-grey concrete enhances the building’s connection to its surroundings while accentuating form over ornamentation.

Landscape Integration

The design merges building and landscape seamlessly. The rooftop terrace connects with an extended walking trail, making the exhibition center not just a structure but part of a larger ecological network. Visitors can transition between indoor and outdoor spaces while engaging with layered views of Chongqing’s mountains, rivers, and ancient towns.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

The architectural form draws inspiration from the Yangtze and Jialing River confluence, one of Chongqing’s most iconic cultural symbols. This metaphor is reflected in spatial flow, roof heights, and circulation patterns, blending urban innovation with regional identity.

Conclusion

One year after completion, the Planning Exhibition Center of Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone stands as a beacon of sustainable, contextual, and culturally resonant architecture. Framed by lush vegetation and panoramic landscapes, the project reflects a fusion of technology, nature, and tradition, positioning itself as both a community hub and a symbol of Chongqing’s future.

All the photographs are works of MMCM Studio, RudyDong