PWD to Break Ground on Mixed-Use Development in Dali City

China-based firm PWD Architecture will soon break ground on Dali Creative Area, a mixed-use development in Dali City, in Yunnan province. The project took home first place in a 2014 design competition, and takes significant direction from the area’s landscape, employing a minimalist stepped-form that celebrates its setting. The development will include a hotel, restaurants, offices, retail and exhibition space. It is slated for completion in 2016.

PWD to Break Ground on Mixed-Use Development in Dali City - More Images+ 7

Garden. Image © PWD, +OUT, White Monkeys

Inspired to create a form that does not detract from the area’s natural beauty, the Dali Creative Area was largely designed in section, effectively supplying daylight and natural ventilation while maintaining views. The resulting set of buildings step with the terrain’s contours and respond to a central green space at the ground level. Similarly, movement through the space alternates between interior areas and open-air terraced green spaces.

Due to its proximity to a historic city gate, the complex maintains single-height commercial and cultural spaces interconnected by lofty double- and triple-height lobbies. The North building will host an exhibition area, media rooms, and multi-occupancy offices, while the South building will house commercial activities, including retail space, restaurants, and a conference center. A separate structure unifies the complex and offers visitors a hotel and wellness spa.

Section. Image © PWD, +OUT, White Monkeys
Restaurants. Image © PWD, +OUT, White Monkeys

The structures themselves employ simple forms that are modernized with a stacked bar construction system and aluminum and timber facades. The facades themselves are composed of clean lines that create subtle backdrops for the landscape and frame views across the province.

Terrace. Image © PWD, +OUT, White Monkeys

The next stage of the Dali Creative Area will include the development of an additional belvedere-style commercial building.

  • Award

    First Prize
  • Project Name

    Creative and Economic Area Dali
  • Architects

  • Location

    Dali, Yunnan, China
  • Design Architect

    PWD Architecture Beijing
  • Partners In Charge

    Marcel Holmberg, Lin Wang
  • Project Team

    Marcin Olszowski
  • Collaborators

    Flore Outtara, Kevin Park, Tom Benson, Grzegorz Layer, Krzysztof Weber, Jan Pietrzak, Tomasz Brzozowski, Daniel Mayer, Wei Hong, Tianyu Zhang, Francis Young
  • Local Architect

    Yunan Pan-Asia Engineering Institute
  • Landscape Architect

    L&A Design
  • Sustainability Consultant

    Marcin Duszyk
  • Client

    Yuxi city housing development investments ltd.
  • Area

    25000.0 sqm
  • Project Year

    2016
  • Photographs

    PWD, +OUT, White Monkeys
  • Award

    First Prize
  • Project Name

    Creative and Economic Area Dali
  • Location

    Dali, Yunnan, China
  • Project Year

    2016
  • Photographs

    PWD, +OUT, White Monkeys
  • Area

    25000.0 m2

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Project location

Address:Dali, Yunnan, China

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.

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Cite: Holly Giermann. "PWD to Break Ground on Mixed-Use Development in Dali City" 09 May 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/629130/pwd-to-break-ground-on-mixed-use-development-in-dali-city> ISSN 0719-8884

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