The Building on the Water

Located in the New Salt Industrial Park of Huai’An City, Jiangsu Province, Shihlien Chemical Industrial Jiangsu Co. is one of the world’s largest combined soda ash and ammonium chloride production plants. The plant covers an area of two square kilometers and employs the world’s most advanced manufacturing processes and technologies.

As early as 2009, Shihlien Chemical Chairman Por-Shih Lin envisioned creating an office building over the 100,000m2 artificial lake (and water reservoir) of the vast industrial complex. To realize this visionary plan, he invited internationally renowned architect Álvaro Siza to head the design team. The concept was to create a building that would blend seamlessly with the most important element in the manufacturing process of glass – water – at the same time establishing a world-class architectural profile for the Shihlien plant. The building also represents the renowned architect’s first project in China.

Over-water construction was an entirely new venture for Álvaro Siza. The Building on the Water took four years to design and construct. Meticulously built in white exposed concrete, the building’s pristine curvilinear form measures over 300m in length, comprising two levels above water and a total built floor area of approximately 11,000 m2.

As if evoking a life-like dragon, elegantly poised over water, the contours of this building gently undulate. Contorting itself, the form escapes from convention, an autonomous entity contrasting with the orthogonal shapes of the factory complex. Crisscrossing the curving geometries, bridges interconnect spaces, levels and volumes. The design takes full advantage of its poetic setting and natural light. In constant interplay with the environment – whether it is the changing hues and reflections of the water, or varying tones of light and shadow, the building manifests a multitude of changing complexions. Whether viewed from land, water or air, the elegant building conveys a quiet beauty achieved when the concrete and substantial comes in contact with the fluid and ethereal.

As Shihlien Chemical Chairman Por-Shih Lin puts it: "Mr. Siza has always upheld the design concept of establishing harmony between man and the environment. This building ingeniously blends with the waterscape and plant grounds. As the first project in China by Álvaro Siza, it will be an inspiration for future industrial plant designs in the country and is truly significant for that reason."

PROJECT TEAM

Client
Por-Shih Lin, Chairman, Shihlien Chemical Industrial Jiangsu Co., Ltd

Architects
Álvaro Siza & Carlos Castanheira

Project management & construction supervision
Stephen Wang & Richard Wang

Local partner
United Architects & Engineers Co., Ltd