Palm Island, Located to the north of Chongqing on the banks of Palm Lake and the Taiping Reservoir, the Palm Island project is a new hospitality precinct designed by HASSELL. The key element of the design is water and it has been melded with light and reflections for the project concept. When viewed from afar, the five buildings housing six different restaurants appear to float on the lake, which is the unique feature of the project by Palm Springs Real Estate Development.
photography by © Luo Wen
Patrons at each restaurant enjoy views of natural water vistas on one side and a private `water courtyard’ on the other, integrated visually through the creation of an infinity pool-style water feature. This gives the architectural impression that the buildings are ‘floating’ on water. The designers drew inspiration from the geography of Chongqing, which sits at the convergence of the mighty Yangtze River and Jialing River, giving the city its nickname of being ‘connected by two rivers’.
photography by © Luo Wen
Palm Spring also features the unique interplay of crystal-like glass structure and an external white ceramic covering that interacts with the lake waters to give off a musical quality. The ever-changing reflections during the day give change to a dreamlike quality at night.
photography by © Luo Wen
Project Info:
Architects: Hassell
Location: Chongqing, China
Year: 2012
Photographs: Luo Wen
Hadeer Shahin is the Built Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she curates innovative architectural works from around the globe. With a background in architecture from Alexandria University and hands-on experience in design and digital content, she bridges the gap between technical precision and editorial vision. Hadeer’s keen eye for spatial storytelling and her passion for contemporary design trends make her a vital contributor to Arch2O’s mission of highlighting excellence in the built environment.