The Bird Observing Tower in Talent Park serves as a new visual focal point and a gathering spot for viewing the wetlands of Zhixing Lake. The Bird Observatory Tower is located at the intersection of the new waterfront corridor and the island chain. At a height of 21 meters, the tower is the tallest building in a radius of 55 acres and deserves to be the best viewing point for watching the migration of water birds.
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Zhongshan Talents Park Bird Observatory Tower
Cultural Architecture (Built)
Firm
ZDG Design
Architect/Designer
Huang Yang/Zhang Shuyuan
Design Team
He Jiakun, Zou Ting, Wen Tianying, Ling Yuting
Location
Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
Country
China
Photographer/Copyright
©ZDG Design
Design Philosophy
The building’s form draws inspiration from a “half-open book,” symbolizing enlightenment and heritage. This concept aligns with the talent park’s core theme of “seeking, valuing, and cultivating talent,” representing the dissemination of knowledge and the continuation of humanistic values.
Aiming at “Co-living with Birds”, The Zhongshan Bird Observatory Tower fully respects the various activities of birds while catering to visitors’ needs for birdwatching at heights, minimizing interference with avian life.
The Duality of Architectural Expression
The wetlands provide space for birds to rest, forage, and nest, while visitors who ascend the tower can enjoy a panoramic view of the waterbirds thriving at the confluence of three different wetland areas at the estuary of the Qijiang River. This design concentrates human activities within the semi-open “V-shaped” space as much as possible.
Openings on the lakeside are reduced to avoid any reflective glare, creating a bird-friendly architectural interface. The side facing away from the lake is relatively lively. The exposed stairs enhance the visitor experience with interlacing structures, guiding visitors to go upwards through indoor and semi-outdoor spaces.
The birdwatching tower acts as a barrier and a bridge between the urban park and the migratory bird habitat, creating a striking landmark while fully respecting the needs of the birds’ living environment.
The Experience: A Delightful Interaction with Internal and External Surroundings
The design of the Bird Observatory Tower takes the potential activities and interests of visitors into full consideration. At the summit, a horizontally extending high-speed rail viaduct appears within a stunning 25-meter-long horizontal “landscape scroll.” Upon reaching the top of the tower, the challenging structural and aesthetic design enables an uninterrupted viewing platform with expansive horizontal windows, providing birdwatchers with an extraordinary experience which offers nearly 240 unobstructed views. An intelligent lighting system is selected for the interior of the tower to minimize energy waste. The lighting contributes to the intimate and calming atmosphere within the architecture. The interior design of tower features a unified concrete material palette, emphasizing simplicity and functionality. This restrained design approach allows the focus to remain on the surrounding natural environment, enhancing the immersive experience for visitors. The interplay of light and shadow within the space further enriches the atmosphere, creating a serene and contemplative environment ideal for birdwatching.