ZIJING INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CAMP

Jingdezhen，Jiangxi，China

Zijing International Conference Camp is located in the mountains and ravines on the west side of Jingdezhen, Jiangxi.

The site was originally a primitive and natural mountain valley with dense forests.

Then it became a large narrow, extended field created by people cutting down mountains and filling ravines.

PUBLICATIONS

Modern concrete and wood residential buildings with outdoor stairs, trees, and a pathway, during daytime.
Satellite map showing an urban area with a river running through the center, surrounded by roads and buildings. Two locations are marked: one in the northwest and another on the east side of the river.

1 Zijing International conference Camp

2 Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum

Comparison of two black and white landscape photographs of Chinese villages with a hand-drawn map in the center, depicting the regions as a simplified outline of the area.

The relationship between the buildings and the environment reflected by the village, farmland and mountains is not only the inheritance of the local people's concept of natural Fengshui, but also a positive response to the geographical and climatic conditions. The ancients lived in this land, thinking about how to obtain living resources from nature, and at the same time keep the land in a state of vitality and stability. They use the simplest but most intelligent construction method to take root here, nourish and protect the living space under their feet in their daily life, and shape the consanguinity of the people, nature and the architecture.

Architectural model of a building complex surrounded by terrain with trees
Model of a landscape with rolling hills and multiple buildings, illuminated against a dark background.

Inspired by the relationship between the local ancient villages and nature, the concept of settlement is adopted to transform the super-scale building of the "conference center" that integrates all functions into "conference and camp" buildings with scattered functions, making it be dissolved in the mountains.

Sketch of a modern hotel with a winding river in front, and small illustrations of a pavilion and a building with a caption indicating they are from changing to a different style.
Modern multi-level buildings with curved roofs surrounded by green trees and hills in the background, during dusk.
Black and white topographical map showing contour lines and building outlines, with a label 'Roof plan' in the bottom right corner.
Modern architectural buildings with concrete exteriors, surrounded by greenery and trees, under a partly cloudy sky. A person is walking on a gravel path in the courtyard.
Modern architectural interior featuring concrete walls, a staircase, and large openings with natural light.
Modern concrete architectural buildings with curved roofs, surrounded by trees and a paved walkway under a clear sky.

This group of buildings hidden in the mountains should inherit the traditional wisdom of the local, be eclectic like a sponge, flexibly and strategically absorb natural air, light, and accommodate human activities to create a natural, open, porous and flowing form of conference center. 

View of a modern concrete building interior with large open spaces, multiple levels, and open windows showing green trees and a park outside.
Modern building with curved roof and large windows, surrounded by trees and a paved path.
Black and white photo showing modern buildings with large windows and terraces, trees, and a partly cloudy sky viewed from a shaded patio area with concrete pillars and a tiled floor.
Line drawing of a multi-level architecture or house, possibly a sketch or blueprint, with various structures and measurements.

In order to realize such a group of buildings, combining the complexity of the site, and exploring a simple, authentic, and easy-to-build structural form becomes the key. In order to reflect the blood relationship between people, activities and architectural space in expressive structures and materials, the earliest conceived structural unit consists of a one-way long-span arch beam and a reinforced concrete structure wall supporting the arch beam at both ends constitute. The arch-beam structural units can be replicated and superimposed and constantly change with the mountain, and there are naturally many holes and gaps between the structures, so that natural light can penetrate into the interior of the building, thus completely breaking the conventional black space meeting mode. Considered from a construction point of view, the architectural form is the structural form itself, with almost no envelope.

Black and white photo of modern architectural building with curved concrete structures, trees in foreground, open green space at base.
Modern building with curved concrete roof, glass walls, and outdoor patio.
Modern interior space with concrete walls, a large cylindrical structure overhead, and large windows letting in natural light. People are walking through the space.

A lot of inverted single-curved arches that hang down and are full of structural tension are repeatedly combined and changed as roof units, which is a metaphor for the mutated Chinese double-eave architectural form. The unique elastic eaves curves in ancient buildings and the slightly recurved roof language formed by the raised frames are fully captured in Zijing International Conference Camp's huge curved surfaces, which are layered and full of changing rhythms. The staggered arches change the refraction and diffusion of light to adjust natural light, combined with the opening and closing of skylights and the control of curtains, the indoor space realizes the maximum possibility of natural lighting and ventilation.

Interior of a modern building with high ceilings, large windows, and a person walking inside.
Modern conference room with a large rectangular table, black chairs, wooden panel walls, and tall vertical windows letting in natural light.
Interior of a modern building with curved wooden ceiling, large windows allowing natural light, and wood-paneled walls.
Interior of a modern conference or lecture hall with large windows, wooden flooring and walls, and black chairs arranged in rows.
A modern lecture hall or conference room with wooden and concrete interior. It has tall, narrow windows on the right side and long tables with black chairs arranged on both sides.
Two wooden architectural models with complex, curved rooftop designs set against a black background.
Wooden skateboard ramp with multiple curved hills and a carved out area, set against a black background.

The concept of "incomplete integrity" in Zhu Pei’s design philosophy of "Architecture of Nature" is strongly reflected in this project, and the full integration of architecture and nature is realized from three dimensions

Black and white topographical map of a hillside, showing building layouts, contour lines, and roads with labels indicating conference hall and hotel facilities.
Modern architectural complex with multiple buildings and curved roofs, illuminated at dusk, surrounded by trees and hills.
Modern architectural building with curved concrete walls and a staircase, surrounded by trees and an open parking area under a clear blue sky.

These experiences have subverted the experience that conventional conference buildings and hotel buildings can bring to people, combining the seriousness of conference activities with people's leisure through the shaping of the environment.

Modern architectural building with a large overhanging concrete roof, glass doors, and multiple residential units on a hillside, surrounded by green trees.

First of all, from the horizontal dimension, the settlement form presents uneven contour edges on the boundary with nature, so that it forms an organic weaving, stitching, and integration with the natural environment, eliminating the boundary between the building and the natural environment. Secondly, in the vertical dimension, the unit structure system also shows the advantages of mountainous architecture to the greatest extent. It can be stacked up and down with the trend of the mountain.

Architectural section drawings of a building with labeled areas, trees, and mountains in the background.
Two people sitting on a bench in a modern architectural structure with concrete walls, wooden panels, and an open outdoor area with trees.
A person stands on a balcony or terrace underneath a large, curved architectural structure with wooden panels, overlooking a scenic view of trees and buildings.
A narrow, concrete staircase with shadows on the steps, leading up to a person walking through a dimly lit corridor to an exit with daylight and greenery outside.
Modern bedroom with large glass windows showing green trees outside, minimalist furniture, and a wooden ceiling.
Modern multi-level concrete building with curved roof sections, large windows, and staircases, situated on a hillside with trees and greenery.
Black and white photograph of modern architectural concrete building with vertical columns and shadows.
Sketch of a bridge and landscape with annotations, including a note about an amphitheater, a low wall, and details of columns.

These experiences have subverted the experience that conventional conference buildings and hotel buildings can bring to people, combining the seriousness of conference activities with people's leisure through the shaping of the environment.

Black and white photo of a modern outdoor area with trees, buildings, and structural columns, casting shadows on the ground with children playing in the background.
Modern architectural structure with concrete pillars and vertical metal bars, featuring shadow patterns on the ground.
Black and white photo of a modern concrete building with tall columns and diagonal beams, featuring a railing in foreground.
A modern architectural structure with concrete walls, vertical metal beams, and an overhang casting shadow, with a glimpse of greenery in the background.

In order to respond to the southern climate, a series of gray spaces are created. The meeting rooms of different spatial scales are connected with corridors, walkways, and platforms under the eaves. The wide eaves provide shade and shelter from the rain, creating shadows in the hot summer of Jingdezhen. Such a sponge-like porous building can not only contain sunlight, air, and sound, but more importantly, it can carry human activities and emotions.

A black and white photo of a concrete building wall with shadows cast across it, a small window, some plants at the bottom, and a railing on the side.
A modern architectural building with sharp, angular roof and large openings, surrounded by trees and a metal railing in black and white.
Modern multi-story house with large windows built on a hillside with trees and greenery during dusk.

Design Year: 2018-2020

Completion Year: 2022

Total Floor Area: 40,107sqm

Location:

Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, China

Architecture, Interior and Landscape Design:

Studio Zhu Pei

Design in Charge:

Zhu Pei

Design Team:

Mauro Pagliaretti, You Changchen, Zhang Shun,

Liu Yian, Liu Ling, Jiming, Chen Yanhong, Han Mo,

Cong Xiaoyu

Photography by Su Shengliang, Zhang Qinquan, Studio Zhu Pei-Wang Junqi