The Guangzhou Panyu Square 110kV Landscape Substation project, located in Zhushan Village, Panyu District, Guangzhou, presents a unique opportunity to integrate a substation into its surrounding urban fabric and enhance the local community’s public spaces. RLP, the architectural firm behind the winning design, adopts a “cloud-gathering” concept, emphasizing the importance of human interaction and sustainability.
RLP’s approach to the design is innovative and holistic. It introduces a “double first floor” concept, creating a platform that connects the surrounding villages and planned green spaces, making the substation accessible from all directions. The design also considers the impact of the substation on the urban landscape, minimizing its visual prominence by twisting its orientation and providing ample space for charging stations and fire safety infrastructure. This opens up the urban interface and creates a vibrant community plaza.
The substation incorporates a diverse range of cloud community services, including small-scale commercial spaces and teahouses, offering a welcoming environment for residents during their leisure time. The second floor features a “科普云廊,” an educational space that showcases the operation of the substation and creates a dynamic and engaging experience for visitors. The substation’s external facade uses perforated aluminum panels, mimicking the appearance of swirling clouds. The varying perforation rates are inspired by the form of rain clouds, with tighter perforation at the top and looser perforation at the bottom. At night, the perforated aluminum panels facing the plaza can be used as interactive projection screens, allowing children to enjoy games with their friends.
This design, a departure from the conventional image of substations as isolated, functional structures, aims to create a truly integrated and inclusive public space. The design integrates multiple functions, including community interaction, public services, fitness, and healthcare, fostering a sense of community and shared living within the urban environment. The project emphasizes a harmonious relationship between people and the city, promoting sustainable urban development and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Project Information:
Architect: RLP
Location: Guangzhou, China
Year: 2023
Photography: RLP
