Mathieu Forest Architecte designed the Xinxiang Cultural Tourism Centre to resemble a stack of ice cubes. A stack of nine frosted glass cubes sits atop a pool of water houses to characterize the cultural hub as a sculpturally-inspired structure. The hub aims to become a sculptural icon for a new winter sports tourism district in the city. The district will include an indoor ski slope.
Inside the nine cubes, the center houses a restaurant, cafe, shops, and children's spaces. Its stacked form creates a series of open-air terraces that overlook the surrounding plaza and water pools. According to Mathieu Forest Architecte, "the ambition of the project is to create a strong urban indicator that unites the whole district."
Image Credit: Mathieu Forest Architecte
What's Driving This Trend
- Ice-themed Architecture
- There is an opportunity for architects and designers to create more ice-themed structures, which could attract winter sports tourism.
- Cultural Tourism Hubs
- Cultural tourism hubs that offer shops, restaurants, and other attractions in a visually interesting way could become more popular.
- Open-air Terraces
- The use of open-air terraces in architecture could increase, as they provide an outdoor space with a unique view for visitors.
Who This Affects Most
- Architecture Industry
- Architects could explore more ways to incorporate visually interesting designs like ice-themed culture hubs.
- Tourism Industry
- Tourism professionals could consider creating more cultural hubs to attract visitors, especially those interested in winter sports.
- Restaurant Industry
- Restaurants could consider the use of unique and visually interesting designs, such as those found in cultural tourism hubs, to attract more customers.
