Xinxiang Cultural Tourism Centre by Mathieu Forest Architecte resembles a stack of ice cubes

A stack of nine frosted glass "ice cubes" atop a pool of water houses this cultural centre in Xinxiang, China, designed by French practice Mathieu Forest Architecte.

The Xinxiang Cultural Tourism Centre was designed as a sculptural icon for a new winter sports tourism district in the city, which will in future include an indoor ski slope.

Mathieu Forest Architecte has created a stacked cultural centre in China

Inside the centre's nine cubes are a restaurant, cafe, shops, reading and children's spaces, with the stacked form used to create a series of open-air terraces that overlook the surrounding plaza and water pools.

"The ambition of the project is to create a strong urban indicator that unites the whole district," said Mathieu Forest Architecte.

It is designed to resemble a stack of ice cubes

"[It] does not look like a classic building – it is not possible to figure out the number of floors, it is a sculpture out of scale, a pure and monumental volume," it continued.

The ice-like appearance was achieved through the use of printed glass panels, which are attached to the concrete structures with minimal metal fixings to avoid the need for any frames.

The building sits beside a pool of water

During the day, the appearance of the glass panels changes depending on the light conditions, revealing certain areas of the interior and concealing others.

At night, illumination from the interior creates a glowing effect, turning the centre into a "lighthouse" for the district.

The ice-like appearance is achieved with patterned glass panels

"The texture of the glass facades is composed of a multitude of tangled translucent ice crystals that filter the light and the vision from the interior," said the practice.

"It is a question of hiding, whilst showing, to provoke mystery and the desire to approach," it continued.

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Each cube is stacked at a different angle, creating a variety of compositions depending on the direction of approach. Some cubes cantilever above the plaza and others are positioned to create small gaps to walk between.

In the central cluster of cubes, a double-height ground floor creates a large, open foyer, leading through to a reading room that opens onto a paved water terrace.

The panels are attached with minimal metal fixings

While this foyer merges the cubes into a single space at the ground floor level, their upper levels intersect and project out into it, creating balcony spaces supported by large white columns.

Two cubes sit away from the central area, connected via paved paths that cross the water pool and containing a shop and restaurant.

The glass facades glow at nighttime

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics has led to a booming interest in winter sports in China. See the buildings that were used to host the games in Dezeen's guide to the Winter Olympics' architecture.

The photography is byArchExist.

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Project credits:

Architects: Zone of Utopia+Mathieu Forest Architecte

Client: Henan Rongshou Xinchuang Culture and Tourism Real Estate Co. Ltd.

Designers: Qiang Zou, Mathieu Forest

Design team: Zeng Teng, Wu Di, Wang Zhuang, Arnaud Mazza, Ma Jia, Xue Qixun

Local Design Architect: Henan Urban Planning Institute & Corporation

Structure: Arup Group Limited

Curtain wall: EDUTH

Landscape design: Hassell Shanghai

Landscape design construction: QIDI Shanghai

Lighting: PROL

Interior design: WU:Z DESIGN

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Levitt Bernstein and TKMT cover Neutron Research Centre in perforated metal fins

Perforated metal fins cover the facade of this new visitor centre designed by Levitt Bernstein and TKMT Architects for the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) science facility in Grenoble, France.

Won through an international competition in 2019, the project provides the world-leading neutron facility's campus with a range of new spaces for visiting researchers, as part of a pan-European initiative to provide neutrons to those carrying out molecular experiments.

The Neutron Research Centre is located in France and was designed by Levitt Bernstein and TKMT Architects

London and Manchester-based Levitt Bernstein teamed up with local architects TKMT to develop the design, which combines an exposed concrete structure with a lightweight metal skin.

One side of the building overlooks a car park, while the other connects to the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) campus via covered walkways.

The building has a lightweight metal exterior and concrete interiors

"The new building has a delicate and intricate appearance, underpinned by a solid, muscular structure," described Levitt Bernstein.

"Slender white perforated fins on the exterior modulate daylight and privacy and are arranged in a lenticular pattern inspired by the process of neutron diffraction," it continued.

"The fins alter the appearance of the facade, from morning to evening, during different weather conditions and when viewed from alternative angles."

One side of the site comprises covered white-painted walkways

A need for security in certain areas, combined with a desire for openness in the public spaces, saw the design divided into two public and private zones.

A double-height, glazed foyer space that welcomes visitors is centred around a helical, exposed concrete staircase and a circular cut-out in the first floor.

"The staircase becomes a sculptural object when viewed from the outside and reveals the life and activity within the building as people move through each level day and night," said the practice.

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Interiors throughout have been kept simple and crisp, combining white-painted walls and exposed concrete with elements of exposed wood used in shelving and cupboards to create "moments of warmth and texture".

"With scientists forming the client group, even small changes could have a large impact on how the occupants could use various spaces," the practice continued.

Skylights and clerestory windows provide the interior with light and privacy

This extends to the fittings themselves, with spaces left simple, open and flexible, including moving walls in the events spaces that allow them to be subdivided.

A large, singular skylight along with strips of clerestory glazing continue the strategy of creating open, well-lit spaces while still maintaining a sense of privacy.

The interior boasts a minimal and clean look

Levitt Bernstein is a London and Manchester-based landscape and architecture practice that was founded in 1968.

Other recently completed science facilities include the Edmond and Lily Safra Centre for Brain Sciences in Jerusalem by architecture studio Foster + Partners, which features an exterior of decorative aluminium screens designed to evoke neurons.

Photography is by Benjamin Gremen.

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Team BLDG conceals sports park facilities in China under an artificial hill

Shanghai-based studio Team BLDG has completed a series of visitor facilities for a sports park in Pazhou, Guangdong province, with spaces carved out of an artificial concrete-walled mound.

Located alongside a paved promenade on the Pearl River waterfront, "The Earth" project combines a visitor reception, rest room, changing spaces, equipment store and public toilets.

In contrast to the dense urban developments that overlook the site, Team BLDG wanted the centre to foster a closer relationship with the landscape and water, which informed the creation of an artificial mound concealing the new spaces.

The artificial mounds were designed by Team BLDG and contain facilities for a sports park

"Starting with the existing landscape movement line, our design intends to meet two types of crowd activity: around and through the architecture," explained the studio.

"Therefore, we 'piled up' a naturally raised green space on top of the original landscape, then 'cut' through it with paths shaped like a cross."

"With the earth-covered construction, the architecture blends itself into the nature and becomes part of the original landscape of the sports park in a simple manner," it continued.

Named The Earth, the project is located along the Pearl River waterfront

Spaces are organised around the deep, diagonal cut through the mound, which creates a courtyard and small garden area at its centre that is accessed by steps and a ramp.

These paved pathways act as an extension of the existing waterfront routes, leading to a park to the east and sports courts to the west.

Visitor and staff areas are hidden within the artificial mounds

Toilet blocks wrap the north, east and west edges of this courtyard, while a larger block to the south houses the reception room, viewing platform and staff areas.

The concrete walls of these spaces extend upwards to create sheltered spaces atop their green roofs, which provide a continuation of the surrounding parkland.

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"The built-in functions of reception, rest, changing rooms and toilets respond to the needs of users from a more daily perspective," said the practice.

The interior of this courtyard has been clad with white terrazzo slabs to contrast the green landscape, emphasising its "cut-out" nature.

A central courtyard was finished in white

Internally, exposed concrete and brushed stainless steel have been used to create quiet and "sedate" spaces, emphasising the feeling of being in the earth.

"When people walk in from the noisy and hot outdoors, it creates a visual cooling effect," said the practice.

Interior spaces were designed to look minimal

At night, the hidden nature of the new spaces is reversed, with illumination from within the centre highlighting the artificial hill's cut-outs.

Other recent projects by Team BLDG include the conversion of a factory bathhouse into a skylit gallery and art studio in Xiamen.

The photography is byJonathan Leijonhufvud.

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