Chinese studio 3andwich Design has completed the Blue Insight Cave Space, a coastal viewing platform and events space in Fujian Province that features cave-like interiors concealed beneath a large green roof.
Perched above the rocky coast of Ningde City, the structure was designed for the Ningde Tourism Development Group to provide additional visitor facilities along a stretch of coastline facing the island of Bijia Mountain in eastern China.
Beijing-based 3andwich Design, led by principal architect He Wei, was informed by the rocky caves that feature along the coast, using brown pigmented concrete to create an angular, polygonal form contrasted by more organic interiors.
The green roof of the space was designed to appear as an extension of the landscape, with the presence of underground areas hinted at by a projecting entrance tunnel and funnel-shaped skylights.
“The design aims for the building to blend seamlessly with the site environment, and embody three words: precipitousness, concealment, and integration,” He told Dezeen.
“Precipitousness means facing the sea but not exceeding it, while also giving people a sense of danger and suspension. Concealment means hiding in the ground, appearing humbly, not disturbing the environment, and not making noise.”
“Integration means blending into the coastal landscape and local culture,” he added.
Surrounded by a concrete parapet, the green roof gives visitors a space to look out across the ocean from two small projecting viewpoints.
Beginning at the vaulted entrance tunnel, visitors descend down a staircase into the internal areas of the Blue Insight Cave Space, which are surrounded by walls and ceilings finished in textured concrete to mimic the interior of a cave.
Alongside storage, administration and toilet areas, a multipurpose events space and gallery overlook the sea to the east through a fully-glazed wall.
“The interior of the building is composed of multiple interconnected ‘cave’ spaces, drawing inspiration from the surrounding sea-eroded landforms to create an organic and dramatic space through mimicry,” He said.
“The east facade facing the sea is made of floor-to-ceiling glass, and the sky, sea and distant islands are ‘pulled’ into the interior of the building,” he added.
An outdoor terrace sits beyond this glass wall, partially sheltered beneath the roof above and lined with a glass balustrade to provide as little visual obstruction between the building and the sea as possible.
To the north, a path connects the external terrace to a neighbouring viewpoint further along the coast, and in the future, a new boardwalk will lead visitors further down towards the coastal caves.
3andwich Design previously completed another panoramic viewpoint for the Water Drop Library in Shuangyue Bay, which is topped with a swimming pool looking out to sea.
The photography is by Dong Images.
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