A Sculptural Presence
In addition to—and in large part because of—SOM’s sustainable solutions, the Center was designed to be visually compelling. Derived from its inherent function of harvesting energy, the building’s form took on an aesthetic akin to abstract art. The layered geometry of the trellis roof’s first iteration evoked the ordered rhythms of Sol LeWitt’s early Wall Drawings, while the zigzag lines of the final design are reminiscent of Lewitt’s later site-specific diagonal installations. A visitor who walks beneath the Exhibition Center’s roof looks up to see a dynamic form that not only employs sustainable technologies, but also creates a sense of place, simultaneously appropriate to its purpose and surprising in its sculptural presence.
The figure of the roof unifies the site, not only sheltering but coalescing the disparate programmatic elements inherent in any exhibition center development. Additionally, the roof imparts an orderly presence to the evolving district. The faceted panels echo the rolling forms of Zhongshan’s hills, as well as the power and elegance of ancient Chinese armor’s imbricate jade panels. At night, the complex and its glass pavilions are lit from within, casting a warm glow that recalls traditional Chinese lanterns. Architects paired these deeply ingrained historic forms with SOM’s modern sensibilities to allow the Exhibition Center to relate to its site while foreshadowing potential development.
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