this futuristic exhibition hall celebrates urban renewal in historic chinese city
‘Future City Exhibition Hall’ by dika design
Located on the southeast corner of the Xi’an city wall in China, at the entrance of an old market district, the ‘Future City Exhibition Hall’ by dika design is a sleek intervention that injects life into the historic area. Coated almost entirely in white, the structure reveals two ‘floating’ space capsules built around an old locust tree and supported by six slender pillars.
The futuristic approach responds to the regeneration of almost 600 back streets and alleys in Xi’an over the past years. According to lead architect Wang Junbao, it is a celebration of urban renewal and innovation without losing respect for traditional architecture.
a futuristic public landmark adaptable to different uses
dika design (see more here) shaped the ‘Future City Exhibition Hall’ for flexible use. Beside serving as an urban landmark, the space can also host conferences, art exhibitions, concerts, and playtime activities. The structure had to be both inviting and adaptable to encourage such programs, hence the all-white aesthetic mixed with circles and squares. However, breaking the monochrome backdrop is a red propeller that represents a kind of vitality and is strong proof of dika’s exploration of technology in architecture.
The open-air hall is made of a cement board steel structure and glass-reinforced concrete (GRC) facades. The main cabin interior is designed as a cavity, topped with a full-body mirror for users to interact with. Under it is a cartoon version of the little Tang monk, playfully greeting passersby. Overall, the project exudes humor, curiosity, and childlike aspiration. When evening sets, built-in lights illuminate the capsules and display exquisite changes in colors that uplift the atmosphere of the historic city wall context.
