Project Name: Sun Tower

Location: Yantai, China

Design Team: OPEN Architecture

Area: 4,960 m²

Completion Year: 2024

Photographers: Iwan Baan, Jonathan Leijonhufvud

Feature：

Project - OPEN Architecture has unveiled Sun Tower, a sculptural cultural center on China's eastern coastline that harnesses celestial movements and natural phenomena to create a contemporary interpretation of ancient sun-worshipping traditions.

Located in Yantai's seafront development zone, the 4,960-square-metre building rises as a striking composition of white concrete shells, featuring an outdoor amphitheater, digital exhibition spaces, and a library that appears to float above the ocean.

The tower's most distinctive feature is its geometry, which has been meticulously calculated to align with specific solar events throughout the year. The building's northern edge parallels the equinox noon sunlight, while its outdoor theater axis points towards sunrise over Zhifu Island during the summer solstice. Even the entrance tunnel has been positioned to capture the winter solstice sunset.

"We wanted to create a cultural 'lighthouse' that bridges ancient wisdom with contemporary urban life," explained OPEN Architecture founders Li Hu and Huang Wenjing. "The building transforms invisible natural energies into tangible experiences."

The structure comprises two primary shells – an outer protective layer and an inner concave surface that functions as an acoustic collector, amplifying the sound of waves. Between these shells, a zigzagging circulation path houses digital exhibitions, while the summit contains a library and the "Phenomena Space" – a semi-outdoor void featuring a central oculus and a pool that creates a mesmerizing water vortex every hour.

Notably, the project emphasizes passive environmental strategies, largely avoiding air conditioning in favor of natural ventilation techniques. The design incorporates tunnel cooling, thermal mass, and chimney effects to maintain comfort while minimizing energy consumption.

The building sits atop a seashell-shaped plaza that doubles as a sophisticated timekeeper. Concentric elliptical rings radiate from the center, with the tower's shadow tracking time along a water channel during equinoxes. The plaza's outer ring features fountains coordinated with the 24 Solar Terms of the Chinese lunar calendar and synchronizes with ocean tides.

Through its innovative fusion of astronomical alignments, environmental consciousness, and cultural programming, Sun Tower stands as a contemporary monument that celebrates humanity's enduring connection to natural cycles and celestial rhythms.

Design Team - OPEN Architecture, founded in New York in 2003 by Li Hu and Huang Wenjing, has emerged as one of China's most innovative architectural practices, establishing its Beijing office in 2008. The firm has garnered international recognition for its progressive approach to architecture that seamlessly integrates cultural sensitivity with environmental consciousness.

Led by founding partners Li Hu and Huang Wenjing, both graduates of prestigious institutions (Tsinghua University, Princeton University, and Rice University), OPEN has cultivated a portfolio of groundbreaking projects that challenge conventional architectural paradigms. Their work spans cultural, educational, and public realm interventions, with notable projects including the UCCA Dune Art Museum, Chapel of Sound, Sun Tower, and Tank Shanghai.

The practice's design philosophy centers on creating meaningful connections between architecture, nature, and human experience through what they term "radical poetry" - combining bold conceptual thinking with poetic spatial qualities. This approach has earned them numerous accolades, including AIA International Design Awards, the Civic Trust Awards, and recognition as Wallpaper* China Designers of the Year 2022.

Currently structured with five directors supporting the founding partners, OPEN continues to push boundaries in architectural design through their research-driven methodology and commitment to sustainability. Their work consistently demonstrates how architecture can mediate between urban development and environmental stewardship while creating spaces that enhance human interaction and cultural exchange.