Nanfei Honglehui Center, an expansive commercial complex in Xi’an City designed by Aedas, is a testament to innovative urban planning incorporating a large garden with an outdoor water-themed park and stunning indoor greenery. The project aspires to cultivate a shopping environment reminiscent of a verdant forest. The idea is to attract and soothe visitors while drawing inspiration from the organic beauty of nature. From tall trees and shrubs to various shays and ferns, a wide variety of green plants, carefully designed to mimic the beauty of a true forest, adorn this landscape.
Expanding on the concept of green architecture, the project’s landscape design was beautifully designed by Adrian L. Norman Limited. The project includes a lot of green spaces both in the interiors and on the exterior. In designing this project, the architects thought carefully about the interaction of light and shadow. Taking advantage of the angle and reflection of sunlight, they composed a rhythm of alternating effects of light and shadow. This not only imparts dynamism to the scenery but also weaves an atmosphere of mystery and romance throughout the interior. Water features serve as a recurrent motif, with the design language using contemporary interpretations of lakes, rivers, and waterfalls found in natural forests, as well as simulations of water flow and sounds that bring vitality back into the landscape, mimicking the liveliness of nature.
The design ethos extends from the ground floor to the raised garden platforms, offering cohesive landscaping on each level. The plaza integrates perfectly with the architectural form and features a river system. With curved paving, continuous fountains, and other water features, the plaza invites city people into a calming oasis, drawing them away from the hustle and bustle of city life into the peaceful ambiance of a forest-inspired space. The undulating terrain and carefully placed boulders act as the forest’s topography, contributing to a visually beautiful environment offering a variety of spatial forms that provide visitors with plenty of space for relaxation and leisure.
The inspiration behind Fountain Square is based on the dynamic interpretation of natural water features, emulating small model waterfalls and interacting water vortexes. The use of height-difference water features adds an element of dynamism, creating an ever-changing spatial experience for visitors. Using the language of architectural destruction, it evokes cascading clouds with a white crystal hidden in the green and a glassy floor reflecting the activity below, creating the appearance of a shimmering pool. Incorporating landscape considerations early in the project’s development and collaborative efforts between planning and financial institutions resulted in themed spaces in the center. The forest-style open and social spaces adorned with diverse plant life offer visitors an opportunity to reconnect with nature, engage in leisure activities, and relish outdoor experiences post-shopping.
The vortex atrium in the corner of the mall has a glass vortex structure that stretches from ceiling to floor. This allows skylight to enter the room through volumetric structures. The overlapping eaves of each courtyard floor, with a variety of plants, create a layered green curtain. Rippled water pattern paving outlines the dining space, enhances the overall aesthetic appeal. The grand staircase in the pool offers an additional indoor walk-in experience, guiding visitors through patio corridors and rainforest flower beds. The sensory allure of cascading water leads them to hidden platform areas. The variety of plants, sightseeing elevators, and water features make for a pleasant indoor travel experience.
The rooftop garden of Nanfei Honglehui Center appears as a three-dimensional space, with a glass-lined walkway offering a better view of the unique glass vortex structure. The curved outdoor amphitheater that invites festive activities contributes to the overall aesthetic of Nanfeihong· Le Hui Center. The center transcends the traditional retail experience, blending retail and nature in a lush and inviting environment. The well-designed interior is not just a retail space but also a haven where nature and architecture coexist together.
Project Info
Project name: Nanfei Honglehui Center
Client: Shaanxi Nanfeihong Industrial co., ltd.
Client team: Zhang Jilei, Zhang Wang
Completion year: 2023
Architectural design: Aedas
Interior design: Aedas
Landscape design: Adrian L. Norman limited
Landscape design team: Adrian L. Norman, Robert, Hilary Feng, Kayla Yang, Lawrence Lu, etc.
Landscape construction drawing design: Guangzhou Shanshui Bide Design Co., ltd. Beijing Branch
Landscape construction (outdoor): Zhejiang New Oasis Garden Engineering Co., ltd.; Xi’an Men’an Decoration Design Engineering Co., Ltd.
Landscape construction (indoor): Shanghai Botanical Garden Greening Engineering Co., Ltd.
Landscape construction (waterscape): Zhongke Huada Environmental Technology Shenzhen Co., ltd.
Photography: Prismatic Landscape Photography
