In the plaza underneath the China Resources Headquarters which is known as “Spring Bamboo Shoot Building”, the design team has created an ice-cream-themed French-manor-style public space with an area of around 2,000 square meters. The venue features ice-cream-shaped pop-up shop and installations integrated with French garden elements. A homage to the Tuileries Garden, the team has incorporated the central circular pool of Tuileries Garden into the scenography. The ice cream architecture stands beside the pool, creating a relaxed leisure atmosphere. Two pop-up shops with distinct forms were built using tree structures on both sides of the garden, transforming Spring Bamboo Shoot Plaza into a French-style ice-cream-themed space.
The project posed the challenge of creating a landscape with a pool on the grassy surface of a structure with an empty underground area. The design team approached this challenge by elevating the central ground and surrounding it with floor tiles, creating the appearance of a natural sunken pool in the center. Additionally, the team constructed an internal circulation pool made from cement in the center for water supply and drainage. The design of the ice-cream-shaped building was particularly challenging, especially the construction of the large ice-cream topping, which was made through an integrated approach. The small building requires high-level stability, which is particularly challenging because of the heavy rooftop. Connecting the huge ice cream top to the main body of the pop-up shop required a precise fit with the edge of the frame to prevent leakage. Throughout the design process, the team considered various options to maximize the beautiful presence while recreating the ice-cream shape of the architecture.
The design team has successfully integrated garden art with open space, breaking away from the conventional monotonous commercial scenography. This integration has made the commercial space more engaging, offering more than just a typical shopping experience or simply a backdrop for taking instagrammable photos. The designers intended to create a space where people can enjoy leisurely shopping and coffee amidst an interesting landscape, savor delicious ice cream in the large ice cream pop-up shop, and immerse in the pleasant summer breeze by the waterscape.
