The winning proposals for the China East Lake Tai Public Art Competition

The China East Lake Tai international public art competition had participants submit installation designs that carry the best potential to enhance the East Lake Tai tourist resort in Wujiang, China. Like many Chinese cities that are experiencing rapid urbanization, Wujiang continues to experience a boom in tourism and economic activity.

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Themed "Wonderland", the East Lake Tai competition gave entrants the option propose public installation designs and master-plan concepts for up to three specified sites in the resort. Proposals had to account for Wujiang's rich historical background, the current status of the site's waterfront venue, and potential future development, among other factors.

At the end of the competition, lucky entrant Riccardo Mariano won first place for two of the three sites. The top-prize winning proposals will be further developed, with the potential for construction if the designs receive final approval.

Get a glimpse of the winning proposals for each site below.

SITE A WINNER: "Flying Bi" by Riccardo Mariano

Project description:

"Flying Bi is inspired by the shape and significance of the Jade Bi disc, an important artifact for the Liangzhu culture. This delicate floating pavilion oscillates gently with the wind and conveys new, yet familiar feelings of freedom and protectiveness. The appearance of the translucent balloon combined with the ever-changing colors of the sky recalls the materiality of jade. The Pavilion challenges the conventional understanding of gravity by reversing the direction of the loads. The lighter-than-air structure, creates a space without imposing weight on the ground. The balloon is made of high performance polyethylene thin film filled with helium to create lift.

The cables securing the balloon to the ground and supporting the net are woven in a hyperboloidal pattern. The top surface features thin film photovoltaic cells installed to harvest energy from the sun and to distribute it to the users through the spots wirelessly charging mobile devices. The site on Jade Island has been chosen to welcome both locals and visitors, in order to facilitate their encounter and exchange. Flying Bi provides an iconic and comfortable vantage point to admire the beautiful panorama around Jade island."

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SITE B WINNER:

To read the project text, click the images to enlarge.

SITE C WINNER: "Tao Pavilion" by Riccardo Mariano

Project description:

"The space of Tao Pavilion is inspired by the idea that all developments in nature, those in the physical world as well as those of human situations, show cyclic patterns of coming and going, of expansion and contraction, light and darkness. The structure is composed of 48 identical, folded cor-ten steel sheets gradually twisting and eventually returning to the starting angle. Each two opposite sections of the ring describe complementary spaces. Walking around the path the visitor experiences a dynamic system in which the whole is greater than the assembled parts.

In the middle there is a contemplative and intimate garden, its yellow flowers represent calm, stability and stillness in movement. The sector open towards the garden offers a covered sitting area, a gentle hill raising up towards the main entrance provides a panoramic spot. The production is made easy and inexpensive by the iteration of identical elements made of folded sheets, the shape is stackable and light facilitating transportation and construction."

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Find more project images in the thumbnail gallery below.