Agricultural Trade Hub in the Yellow River Delta for Buying and Selling Agri-products
The Yellow River Delta Agricultural Product Trading Service Center, nestled in Binzhou City, Shandong Province, boasts a commanding presence south of the 5th Changjiang Road and west of the 18th Bohai Road. Spanning approximately 110,000 square meters, this large-scale exhibition and conference complex combines multiple functions, including exhibitions, conferences, and catering.
The design of the center gracefully mirrors Binzhou City's socio-economic development, importantly interpreting the site's unique features while showcasing local cultural charm. This urban development project brings a dynamic urban living space, offering an efficiently harmonious city hall with benefits for the general public.
Addressing the often disjointed urban landscape created by conventional exhibition buildings, the design strategy adopts a broader urban perspective. With residential communities densely populating the north and west sides of the site, and the eastern border hugging the Pearl Lake Park, the main entrance is strategically situated on the eastern side along the 18th Bohai Road—aligned with the length of the site. This intentional placement not only generates an impactful display facade facing the city but also introduces a vibrant core urban celebration plaza, providing residents with a multi-purpose space for activities, celebrations, and gatherings.
Public squares, recreation areas, landscape parks, and outdoor markets, among other spaces, are meticulously arranged around the exhibition building. These communal areas cater to citizens' diverse recreational needs while ensuring efficient exhibition and commercial activities.
The flexible and efficient layout design reflects the operational requirements of the exhibition center. Comprising a central hall, one 10,000 m² large exhibition hall, two 5,000 m² intermediate exhibition halls, and one 3,000 m² small exhibition hall, the complex is reinforced with supporting facilities such as a convention center. Arranged linearly from north to south and connected by the central hall, these multiple exhibition spaces display an efficient herringbone layout, offering flexibility for spatially adapting to various exhibition scales. Interconnecting corridors between individual exhibition halls add versatility to future operations.
Drawing inspiration from local architecture, the project's exterior incorporates regional cultural elements. The exterior walls, composed of metal aluminum panels and glass curtain walls, include a parametric facade to exude contemporary and modern aesthetics. The north facade, the city's most important image display surface, showcases a marine culture and aquatic symbolism by arranging and juxtaposing multiple fan-shaped "shells." The eastern facade, facing the main square, features an extensive golden woven texture, striking a rhythmic overall image.
The structural design of the exhibition halls expertly fuses engineering pragmatism and architectural creativity. The largest hall, Hall No. 1, encompassing approximately 10,000 m², adopts an innovative top-supported steel bowstring arch truss system. This system overcomes key challenges, including out-of-plane instability of cable-braced systems, exposed HVAC ducts, and structural support for the cantilevered roof profiles on both sides. The combination of top-supported bowstring arches and the longitudinal curvature of the architectural roof creates an expressive interior space with the aesthetic appeal of a hyperbolic dome, with the central hall, serving as the core exhibition and trading space, showcasing a maximum height of approximately 23.7 meters.
Boasting significant status as a key project under Binzhou City's "83" initiative and a key construction project in Shandong Province in 2021, the center has attracted widespread attention. Upon completion, the project passed high-quality final inspection and immediately became the highest-caliber venue for conferences and exhibitions in Binzhou. It has hosted landmark events, including the First Plenary Session of the 12th People's Congress of Binzhou City and the 7th Capital Matchmaking Conference of Binzhou. With an average of approximately 50 large and medium-scale events held annually, the center now plays a pivotal role in serving as a catalyst for urban vitality and a driving force for elevating Binzhou's urban image.
- The urban living space created by the center extends beyond exhibitions and conferences, offering a harmonious city hall that caters to lifestyle needs, including fashion-and-beauty stores and shopping areas.
- Adjacent to the exhibition building, communal areas such as food-and-drink establishments, home-and-garden stores, and pet shops are thoughtfully integrated, reflecting the diverse interests of the city's residents.
- Travelling to the center is facilitated by its strategic location, being south of the 5th Changjiang Road and west of the 18th Bohai Road, making it easily accessible for both cars and public transport.
- The architectural design of the center has earned recognition for its symmetry with Binzhou City's development, also showcasing the charm of relationships as it brings the community together in a vibrant celebration plaza.
- Upon completion, the center serves not just as a platform for showcasing agricultural products, but also as a venue for travel experiences, hosting events such as the 7th Capital Matchmaking Conference of Binzhou, fostering connections and strengthening relationships.
