chongqing cutan international cruise center

MAD architects was inspired by orange gantries to design the winning design for a 65,000 m² international cruise terminal in chongqing, China. the project, led by ma yansong, and in collaboration with the chinese academy for building research (casr), will transform an existing freight terminal in the city’s port area with access to the yangtze river. the new program includes a 15,000 m² cruise port and 50,000 m² of retail space.

“Chongqing has mountains and waters”, said ma yansong, reflecting on the vision behind the winning project. “However, the Yangtze River is more than just a natural landscape in Chongqing. Due to human activities such as maritime traffic and industrial transport, this mountain town is also full of energy and movement. we want to transform this energy in chongqing traces of the industry into an energy that stimulates the imagination. people can feel the kinetic energy of the city here, but also imagine the public spaces of the future. ‘

all images courtesy of MAD Architects

six sci-fi-style buildings inspired by past industry

the aerial part of MAD’s proposal — called the “Yangtze River Gateway” —is made up of six raised buildings of varying heights that are interconnected over 430 meters. the color and shape of these towers are influenced by the large orange gantry cranes that dominate the cargo terminal, which the design team noticed while visiting the port site.

“These gantry cranes became living alien creatures which gave a sense of surrealism”, mom noted. “The new scheme is therefore not only to reflect the industrial colors of the past, but also to respect this original surrealism. we designed the elevated buildings as if it were a futuristic, free city, seeming to come here from somewhere else, and maybe travel somewhere else one day. ‘

the high-rise buildings will be clad in an aluminum curtain wall with floor-to-ceiling glass offering stunning views of the Yangtze River. these spaces will accommodate mixed-use tenants, including shops and restaurants.

the cruise ship landscape park and the cruise center hub

Below the six raised buildings will be the new Landscape Cruise Ship Park, which will connect with Centan du Siècle Park on one side and Pier Park on the other to create a 100,000m² urban green space . from there, visitors can enjoy a unique perspective of chongqing and yangtze.

under the new park is the hub of the cruise center, providing access to the ‘floating’ complex and landscaped park on the ground floor. the cruise center design includes skylights to enhance natural light into the interior space, while a cantilevered upper building avoids excessive direct sunlight.

The winning program of MAD architect’s competition aims to establish a unique urban landmark for chongqing, linked to the city’s industrial past. it is also only part of a 6 square kilometer master plan aimed at transforming the port area into a new international city, an “integrated district of ships, ports, towns, tourism, shopping. and entertainment ”and the world’s leading river cruise port.

the cuntan international cruise center is scheduled to begin construction in november 2022 and be completed by 2027.