NE(S)T

In the busy urban life, like tired birds returning nest, people who are rushing between their homes and workplaces always try to find a place for a short rest in a corner of the city. The rapid development of urbanization has promoted the formation of high-density development areas in the urban fring. Residents living in high-rise tower clusters are particularly in need of infrastructure that is beneficial to physical and mental health. In the process of urban micro regeneration, providing residents with leisure and entertainment spaces apart from their homes and workplaces has become an important issue.

The rapid development of urbanization has promoted the formation of high-density development areas in the urban fringe and outlying areas. Residents living in high-rise tower clusters are particularly in need of healthy living infrastructure.

Based on this concept, the passageway with a width of 8 meters, a height of 8 meters, and a length of about 300 meters is designed as an innovative space integrating business, tourism, events, and entertainment. Residents of Kunming and tourists are encouraged to gather here. The whole passageway extends to every corner through an elastic, soft and decentralized mesh structure that diverse functions, people and story mingled in a huge “bird’s nest” woven from a stainless steel wire rope woven mesh. While satisfying the residents’ entertainment and fitness needs, unexpected and unique experiences in the nest will be created. In these three entrances located in the west, east and north, three slanted gaps formed by shrinked woven mesh act as gradual transition from the ground to the nest space. The overhead nest not only completely preserves the original function of evacuation routes, but also creates attractive interactive spaces that meets different needs through fixed and flexible hanging joints. Closely connected by traffic space nearby the fire doors, the clusters with diverse functional themes such as Cafe, Cinema, Kids’ Playground, Fitness Centers, Reading Space, Souvenir Shops, and Information Center are distributed along the huge flexible stainless steel woven mesh. The ingenious combination of skylights and various lighting devices divides the boring and narrow passageway into a variety of stimulating senses and immersive experience spaces. Unlike conventional ground-based activities, nets suspended in the air encourage people to explore body-related activities.

As Bernard Tschumi said, ” Architecture is not simply about space and form, but also about event, action and what happens in space.” Residents can slow down their journey and enjoy their daily life in the interlaced light and shadow. Ne(s)t will become a new business card of Kunming.

Status

Tube 8*8*300 Kunming Underground Tunnel Design Competition

_Finalist Mention

Team

Shiqing Liu, Yan Lu, Yang Liu