Tech__arch

Sun Tower
Gallery, Library
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Location: Yantai, China
Architects: OPEN Architecture
Area: 4960 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs:Iwan Baan, Jonathan Leijonhufvud

Sun Tower is special as a building typology, it is a cultural “lighthouse” where ancient wisdom in respecting nature is integrated with contemporary urban cultural life. The architecture frames and transforms invisible energies—air, light, sound, and natural phenomena—into tangible and visceral experiences, allowing people to establish moments of connection with the universe and otherwise endless cycles of nature.
The building features shell structure. Two layers of white concrete shells form the main body, connected and braced by slabs and ramps. Facing the ocean, the concave inner shell of the building acts as a sound collector, absorbing and amplifying sounds from the sea. At its base is a semi-outdoor theater which also serves as a place for relaxation and sea observation. A smaller upside-down shell atop the inner shell houses the library and the Phenomena Space. The library offers both traditional and digital books. Reading under the sky and above the sea is a very unique experience.

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