United Practice Architects | UPA

Changling Ferry is located on the east coast of Liangzi Lake in Ezhou City, Hubei Province. It is the main tourist distribution center leading to Liangzi Island，a national 4A tourist attraction. At present, Liangzi Lake Scenic Spot is undergoing upgrading and renewal. As an important node, Changling Ferry has expanded supporting buildings, parking lots and related Auxiliary Buildings, and at the same time, actively improving the living environment and architectural style of surrounding residents, and is committed to considering the upgrading of the scenic spot and the township transformation.

Since 2021, we have participated in the renewal plan of the scenic spot and participated in the experimental architectural design. From Changling Ferry to Liangzi Island, hoping to bring some improvement to the development of the scenic spot and the living environment of local villagers.

The design stage is three buildings, and the base is located in a perennial abandoned red land in the south side of the ferry, with residential buildings in the east and steep obstacles in the south. In the case of the site area is not rich, the site needs to accommodate three single buildings at the same time, including 2 # landscape public toilet, shipping command center and backup warehouse.

The design revolves around the common strategies, including: the building's response to the site and landscape, the shaping of the courtyard, and the continuous presentation of the materials.As a landscape attribute, the public toilet faces the square directly to facilitate serving tourists. The shipping command center needs to know the water shipping situation in a timely manner, so it is adjacent to the road and meets the needs of sunlight, lighting and viewing. The backup warehouse is the least frequently used and is located at the southernmost end of the site.

01 NO.2 Landscape Public Toilet
NO.2 landscape public toilet adopts a triangular plane, which is different from the circular plane of NO.1 toilet, which also increases the recognition of the building. At the same time, we continue to strengthen the publicity and openness of public toilets, and add rest and waiting areas at the entrance and triangular patio. At the same time, a curved landscape wall is retained to form an inner courtyard, giving it the dual attributes of interior and exterior. Visitors can feel the subtle changes of time and light and shadow while resting and staying.

The triangular shape breaks the dull and monotonous atmosphere of the surrounding area, making it more lively and emotional, forming a place for tourists to "relax". As the interface for lighting, glass bricks and high windows for ventilation can not only meet the needs of lighting and ventilation, but also break the boundary of public toilets, ensuring privacy while eliminating the sense of isolation from the outside world.

We continue the discussion on the practical topic of No. 1 Landscape Public Toilet, and make the public toilet itself landscape, making it a medium that can change the surrounding small environment, make people relax mentally, and feel happy physically and mentally. During non-peak tourist seasons, this is more often a place where local villagers stop and hang out.

02 Shipping Command Center
The villages and towns around Changling Ferry have a single style, basically presented with red bricks, red tiles and white walls. On the premise of limited cost, we continued to use the elements of white walls and red bricks. We wanted to have a break through in personality while maintaining composure, which is most obvious in the shipping command center.

The shipping command center adopts a three-section layout and is spliced horizontally. Various tiny concave spaces are formed on the original regular box. The facade material is made of red bricks and white walls, which are staggered and spliced, giving each angle a different texture and Spatial changes.

Due to the closed nature of the shipping command center as an office building, people working there have a greater need for open space. Therefore, an open garden and tea room are formed in the courtyard space on the roof. The staff also have a good activity venue in their spare time. The staggered design of different floors also leaves many viewing balconies, so you can look far away from the top.

In the design of auxiliary Buildings of Changling Ferry in Liangzihu, we insist on returning to simple architecture and responding to the current problems and challenges. Through the transformation and construction of local plots, a small and unique place will become the new "catalyst point" of Changling Ferry, providing more dynamic space for tourists in scenic spots and township residents.