As a benchmark commercial complex for the TOD model in the western part of Chengdu, its innovative application of 3,000 square meters of U profile glass on the exterior facade deeply integrates material properties with architectural aesthetics and functional requirements, creating an urban landmark that combines artistic appeal with technological foresight. The following is an appreciation from three dimensions: design concept, technological innovation, and scenario creation:
Design Concept: A Dialogue Between Traditional Imagery and Modern Aesthetics
1. Translation of Cultural Genes
Inspired by the poetic imagery “Flowers Adorn the Silk City” (a classical reference to Chengdu, known as “Jinguancheng” or “the Silk Official City” in ancient times), the project abstracts the shape of hibiscus petals (Chengdu’s city flower) into the texture of the building’s facade through the gradient color control and dynamic light-shadow narration of U profile glass. At night, built-in LED light strips simulate the dynamic effect of petals opening and closing, and when combined with the “flower stamen”-shaped spotlights on the top of the building, they create a visual image of “Blossoming in the Silk City”.
2. Deconstruction of Spatial Layers
The exterior facade adopts a double-layered wing-to-wing U profile glass curtain wall. The outer layer of glass undergoes sandblasting treatment to achieve a diffuse reflection effect, while the inner layer of transparent glass enhances spatial transparency. This “virtual-real superposition” design technique gives the building rich layering under different lighting conditions: it resembles a lantern covered with a thin veil during the day, and transforms into a crystal-clear glass structure at night.
Sichuan West Chen Tianjie’s application of U profile glass breaks through the functional boundaries of traditional building materials, organically integrating elements such as structure, aesthetics, energy conservation, and intelligence to form a design paradigm of “technology as the bone, art as the wing”. Its innovative practice not only provides a sustainable development solution for commercial buildings but also reveals an insight: when material performance is deeply integrated with humanistic care, architecture can truly become a carrier of urban memory and a symbol of the spirit of the times.