Chongqing Mingyue Lake Landscape Tower by gad
gad designs Landscape Tower, located within the Liangjiang Synergy Innovation Zone in Chongqing, China, adjacent to Mingyue Lake and Mingyue Mountain. The area has developed as a cluster of buildings arranged around the lake, attracting entrepreneurs and park users. The project was commissioned as a viewing structure that provides panoramic access to the surrounding natural and urban landscape. Following site selection studies, the tower was positioned on elevated terrain along the lakeshore.
Situated on a hillside overlooking Mingyue Lake, the tower offers views toward Mingyue Mountain to the east, the lake to the west, and the surrounding park landscape. Its elevated and isolated placement within the forested terrain allows the structure to function both as a viewing platform and as a visible landmark within the park. The project considers not only the spatial outcome at the summit, but also the sequence of movement and perception experienced during ascent.
Access to the tower is designed as a gradual spatial progression. Visitors approach along a hillside path through dense forest before ascending a lightweight stair system that wraps around the structure. As the climb continues, views expand from the immediate landscape of trees and slopes to broader vistas of water and sky. A compressed entry sequence precedes the arrival at the viewing platform, creating a contrast between spatial enclosure and openness. The design emphasizes the experiential transition from ground to elevated vantage point. The form of the tower references the image of a bright moon, with a geometry derived from a near-complete lunar phase. The structure is conceived as a light and minimal vertical element that maintains visual independence while reflecting its surrounding environment. Slender proportions and a restrained material presence allow the tower to appear as a floating form within the landscape.
all images by ©Bai Chuan
Achieving this visual lightness required an integrated approach to spatial design and structural engineering. The structural system is composed of six primary frame columns that carry vertical loads and resist lateral forces, supplemented by six swing columns that assist with vertical load transfer while minimizing column diameter. A series of inclined stair beams wraps around the frame columns, forming a braced system that contributes to overall lateral stability.
Conventional steel column dimensions based on standard slenderness ratios would have resulted in significantly larger structural members. To maintain the desired proportions, the project adopted a performance-based structural design strategy that increased load-bearing capacity while allowing higher slenderness ratios. This approach enabled the use of frame columns with a diameter of 245 mm and swing columns with a diameter of 152 mm, exceeding typical slenderness limits.
The reduced cross-section resulted in lower lateral stiffness, making the structure more sensitive to wind and crowd-induced movement. To address user comfort, vibration measurements were conducted following the completion of the main structure. Based on these measurements and subsequent analysis, four tuned mass dampers, each weighing 500 kilograms, were installed along the primary axes of the tower. This intervention reduced vibration levels by more than 50 percent. Through the integration of spatial sequencing, formal restraint, and structural optimization, the Landscape Tower by gad architectural studio operates as a viewing structure that combines experiential movement with technical precision, contributing a distinct architectural element to the Mingyue Lake park landscape.
project info:
name: Synergy Innovation Zone Incubation Accelerator Site Landscape Tower
architect: gad
structural engineer: gad
construction drawing design: Guangdong Provincial Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.
client: Chongqing Liangjiang Synergy Innovation Zone Construction and Investment Development Co., Ltd.
location: Synergy Innovation Zone, Liangjiang New District, Chongqing, China
area: 131 sqm
photographer: Bai Chuan
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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