Winner: Taiyuan Botanical Garden Domes
Structural Designer
Arcplus Institute of Shanghai Architectural Design & Research (Co.,Ltd) / StructureCraft
Client Name
Taiyuan Botanical Garden
Location
Taiyuan, China
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
StructureCraft
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER/LOCAL DESIGN INSTITUTE
Arcplus Institute of Shanghai Architectural Design & Research (Co.,Ltd)
ARCHITECT
Delugan Meissl Associated Architects & Valentien+Valentien Landschaftsarchitekten und Stadplaner SRL
PRINCIPAL CONTRACTOR
Greenland Construction Group (Co.,Ltd.) & Shanghai SKF Architecture Technology Co., Ltd.
STRUCTURE CONCEPT DESIGN CONSULTANT
Bollinger + Grohmann
PARAMETRIC DESIGN CONSULTANT
Mule Studio
GLASS CURTAIN WALL CONSTRUCTION
Shanghai Beelitech Co. Ltd
GLULAM JOINTS, COMPONENTS & MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS EXPERIMENTS
StructureCraft, Tongji University
GLULAM STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING
Taiyuan University of Technology
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Three long-span timber gridshells which function as greenhouses, ranging from 11m to 29m in height and 43m to 88m in diameter. The buckling performance of these slender shells was critical. Significant full-scale structural testing was conducted to prove the stiffness and capacity of unique hidden connections.
Submitted in 2021
Judge's comment:
The Taiyuan Botanical Garden complex features three paraboloid domes with spans of up to 88m constructed through a complex structural system of timber beams, overlapped in two directions, and stainless-steel cables. It is thought to be the largest span structure of its kind in world.
The complex geometry inherent in this architectural form made parametric design and structural optimisation of paramount importance. The careful planning of the design, fabrication, transportation, and construction sequence resulted in a problem free erection on site with very little site alteration required.
The concept is based on land restoration and the choice of materials creates a harmony between nature, architecture and structure. The project pushes the boundaries of structural engineering, materiality, and construction technique.