a riverfront warehouse reworked for public use
In China‘s Nanhai District, this Yongping Warehouse has seen a renovation by Atelier cnS which reworks a row of riverfront industrial buildings into a landscaped rooftop public space. Once tied to river trade, the warehouses now occupy a stretch of waterfront that is gradually opening to residents, with access and visibility taking on new importance.
From a distance, the project is defined by a series of translucent, domed canopies that gather across the roofline. Their low, clustered profile reads as a continuous form hovering above the existing brick volumes. The gesture is simple and easy to read, and gives the site a recognizable presence along the river while drawing movement upward.
images © Siming Wu
placing the park above the building
The Yongping Warehouse Renovation organizes its program vertically. The architects at Atelier cnS reserves interiors and ground level for commercial use, while the roof becomes the primary public space. This arrangement responds directly to the narrow footprint, and allows the project to expand outward without increasing its base.
Circulation follows the existing structure. The gaps between warehouse blocks are preserved and widened into passageways that connect the street, interior spaces, and roof. Moving through them, the river appears intermittently, framed by walls and stairs before opening fully at the top.
the project transforms former river trade warehouses into a landscaped public space
working with the existing fabric
The original masonry facades remain in place, carrying the texture and scale of the former warehouses. Their surfaces show the logic of straightforward construction, which the project keeps visible rather than covering with new finishes. Against this, new elements — concrete slabs, steel framing, and the canopy system — introduce a lighter layer that sits above.
Inside, the removal of the original roof structure allows for increased ceiling height, making the spaces more usable for current tenants. This shift is legible above, where the former pitched roofs are translated into an uneven ground condition across the rooftop.
a series of faceted canopy structures creates a recognizable presence along the river
shaping the roof as terrain
The roof is treated as a continuous surface that rises and dips in response to the underlying structure. Grassy slopes, stepped seating, and play areas are distributed across it, encouraging movement across different levels rather than along a single path.
The materials reinforce this connection to the site’s past. Reclaimed stone appears along the river edge, while salvaged timber is reintroduced in small installations. These elements sit alongside new concrete and metal surfaces, creating a layered condition without trying to match the original construction.
the rooftop is converted into a continuous public park above active commercial spaces
a canopy that gathers activity
The canopy structures define the atmosphere of the rooftop. Built from a hexagonal frame and covered with translucent panels, they provide shade while allowing light to pass through. Their scale creates covered zones that support seating, play, and circulation.
Underneath, the space feels open but moderated. Light is diffused, and the river remains visible through the structure and beyond the edge. The Yongping Warehouse Renovation brings together these conditions into a single continuous sequence, where former industrial buildings support a new pattern of use along the water.
circulation moves through preserved gaps between buildings to link the street and roof
new concrete and steel elements sit lightly against the existing masonry
the roof is reshaped into slopes steps and play surfaces inspired by former pitched forms
the canopy filters light and gathers people beneath a shaded open structure
project info:
name: Yongping Warehouse Renovation
architect: Atelier cnS
location: Foshan, China
area: 4,311 square meters
completion: 2025
photography: © Siming Wu
design direction: Zhiyuan Zhu, Gang Song, Guanqiu Zhong
project director: Hairui Lin
design team: Ziqi Zhang, Xiaoyin Chen, Dongyan Lin, Yaqian Cai, Haixin Lin, Wenyuan
engineering, structural consulting: Shengyi Architectural Design Studio
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