#timber frame

Grand Ring, Osaka Expo, Japan - Sou Fujimoto

(Now sadly taken apart and demolished)

Tianfu Agricultural Exposition| Chengdu, China

Architects: CuiKai, CADG Engineer: Structure Craft 📷: Kang Kai of CADG

Building area: 800,000 sq ft

The main exhibition hall of the Tianfu Agricultural Exposition is an important part of Chengdu’s “metropolitan area” development plan. The project features five main buildings and with a total footprint of more than 75,000 m2, it serves as the space for the museums and where agricultural products from the region will be displayed.

Key Features: ▶ Landscape integration

The design intentionally blurs the lines between the indoors and outdoors space, with the landscape extending in the buildings or vaults and vice versa and expanding the exhibition space beyond the hall itself.

▶ Unique Arch Design 

The arch geometry of the vaults tapers, deeper sections are at the base and shallower sections are at the apex, creating a visually dynamic structure.

▶ Hybrid Truss System

The vaults span up to 110 meters with a height of 44 meters, with each roof vault constructed using a hybrid truss system, combining glulam timber chords and Vierendeel-inspired web of steel frames.

▶ ETFE Cladding

Translucent but colorful, pretensioned ETFE membranes serve as the cladding of these vaults which allows natural light to filter through while providing weather protection.

▶ Sustainable Approach

Follows the design concept of ‘soft integration’ and ‘localization’ which emphasizes the integration and seamless blending of the exhibition space with the surrounding farmland and Linpan (rural settlements) Integrating innovative timber construction with traditional agricultural practices and landscape design