Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture by Jing Xu and Gang Liu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Platinum A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Competition Category.
PlatinumArchitecture· 2025
Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture
Client: 00Group
Platinum A' Design Award Winner in Architecture Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #166726The Design
About Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture
Cosmic Creek is a mixed-use development located in Chengdu Luxelakes, designed to blend with the surrounding environment. Spanning approximately 100000 square meters, the layout incorporates an L shaped water channel, stepped platforms and green areas aligned with the terrain. A central plaza with sculptural planters and modular seating units anchors the design. The project prioritizes ecological integration and accessibility, fostering a functional space where built structures complement the natural landscape.
The Recognition
About the Platinum A' Design Award
Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture is a Platinum A' Design Award winner, an extremely prestigious recognition granted to truly exceptional, elegant, and magnificent designs. Platinum winners are marvels of creation, testaments to the limits of intellectual creativity, and demonstrate the unmatched professionalism and genius of their designers. These designs are expected to be the most renowned works that define the aesthetics of an era, contribute to the well-being of society, and push the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture exhibits a transcendent level of excellence and unequivocally makes the world a better place with its advantageous and worthwhile characteristics. Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture is a Platinum A' Design Award-winning work that triggers desires, inspires, excites, delights, and sparks great joy.
Where to Get It
Contemporary Architecture Design Studio
We transform spaces through innovative design that seamlessly integrates nature, culture, and urban life. Our award-winning team brings international expertise and oriental aesthetics to create meaningful environments for cultural, civic, and commercial projects across diverse scales and typologies.
Discuss Your ProjectInterviews
Grand Interview
Your innovative integration of the L-shaped water channel within Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture challenges traditional commercial space design - could you elaborate on how this water system shapes both the physical and social dynamics of the development?
The L-shaped water channel serves as the project's primary spatial organizer rather than merely a landscape feature. Inspired by Chengdu's long-standing relationship with water systems, the channel weaves through the site and connects different commercial zones, public plazas, and green spaces into a continuous experiential sequence.Physically, it guides circulation and establishes visual orientation across the development. Socially, it creates gathering points, resting areas, and opportunities for spontaneous interaction. Instead of treating commerce and public space as separate entities, the water channel allows them to coexist within a shared ecological and social framework.
The Ginkgo Leaf Units in Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture represent a fascinating merger of nature and technology - how did you develop this unique structural element to serve multiple functions while maintaining aesthetic harmony?
The Ginkgo Leaf Units emerged from our desire to create an architectural language rooted in nature while addressing practical urban needs. The ginkgo tree is deeply associated with Chengdu and carries strong cultural resonance.These units function simultaneously as shading devices, spatial markers, landscape elements, and environmental infrastructure. Through parametric studies and digital fabrication methods, we refined their geometry to maximize performance while maintaining a coherent visual identity. Their form creates a recognizable spatial experience that links architecture, landscape, and ecological systems into a unified whole.
Given the complex topographical challenges at Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture, how did your team utilize digital construction techniques to achieve precision across the varying elevations while ensuring seamless accessibility?
The site's complex topography required a highly coordinated digital design process. Through parametric design and digital coordination, we continuously evaluated the relationships between terrain, circulation, public space, and commercial functions.This approach allowed us to precisely control elevations, accessibility, and storefront visibility across the site, transforming topographical complexity into a layered and engaging spatial experience while maintaining the efficiency and usability of the commercial environment.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The Cosmic Creek in Luxelakes Chengdu, spans 100,000 sqm, blending urban spaces with natural landscapes. Its "L-shaped" water system shapes terraced spaces for play and relaxation. A central square with cascading waterfalls and a geometric ring offers vibrant activity and city views. Featuring "Ginkgo Leaf Units" for shade, irrigation, and lighting, the project integrates modern design with oriental aesthetics, redefining urban space through sustainability and nature-commerce harmony.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The Cosmic Creek covers a total site area of 100,000 square meters. The project's central feature, a geometric ring-shaped structure (UFO), has a diameter of 106 meters and is elevated approximately 17 meters above the ground, offering 360-degree city views. The "L-shaped" water system features terraced elevations ranging from 1 to 6 meters, with the entire site interconnected by gentle slopes for an engaging pedestrian experience. The Ginkgo Leaf Units range in height from 15 meters to 11 meters, integrating independent irrigation, planting, and lighting systems.
- Tags
- Urban design, sustainable architecture, water system, public space, commercial street, ecological integration, Chengdu, terraced landscape, Leaf Units, nature-inspired design
- Production Technology
- The project employs full-digital construction techniques to address varied elevation changes and ensure precision. Prefabrication and customization were key, particularly for unique structures like the Ginkgo Leaf Units, crafted with steel and executed through digitally controlled construction methods. Close collaboration with landscape design integrated thematic elements, such as tree planters and waterfalls, directly tied to façade geometry, creating seamless green and experiential spaces.
- Design Challenge
- One of the main challenges of The Cosmic Creek was the varying site elevations. With natural topographical differences, it was crucial to precisely manage the transitions between different levels while ensuring smooth circulation and functionality. To address this, the team developed a new system using gradient ramps and multi-level pathways to connect different areas, avoiding the constraints of traditional floor layouts. Additionally, the design process emphasized close collaboration between architecture, landscape, and structural teams to ensure coordination and feasibility.
- Research
- The Cosmic Creek research explored how water, nature, and architecture can blend to enhance social interactions and sustainability in urban spaces. Using site analysis, topographic surveys, climate studies, and behavioral observations, the design integrates water systems with human interaction. The result is a dynamic, water-centric urban space fostering community engagement. This approach redefines public spaces, demonstrating how sustainability and commerce can coexist in urban planning.
- Inspiration
- The Cosmic Creek was inspired by the concept of creating a seamless connection between nature and urban life, with a focus on interaction and community. Drawing from Chengdu's cultural ties to water, the design integrates research on topography and ecological systems to craft spaces that resonate with human behavior. The goal was to foster a sustainable environment where daily activities blend with natural elements, redefining how commercial spaces interact with their surroundings and users.
- Project Duration
- The project began in May 2021 in Chengdu, China, within the Luxelakes Eco City in the Tianfu New District. It is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2026/2027. The design has been continuously refined to ensure the project meets its ecological, commercial, and community goals, transforming urban space with a harmonious integration of nature.
- Operation Flow
- The Cosmic Creek operates as an interactive public space where water and architecture engage visitors. Water flows through the terraced site, encouraging exploration and interaction. The Leaf Units provide shade and lighting, while the central square and waterfalls act as focal points for gathering. The layout fosters smooth pedestrian movement, offering a continuous, engaging experience. By integrating nature and commerce, it enhances social interactions and sustainability, creating a more vibrant urban environment.
- Patents
- The design is protected under copyright by 00GROUP.
Copyrights belong to Jing Xu and Gang Liu, 2024. - Team Members
- 00Group
Wide Horizon Investment Group - Image Credits
- Image credits:
#NO1 00Group+Iruler
#NO2 Wide Horizon
#NO3 Wide Horizon
#NO4 Wide Horizon
#NO5 00Group+Iruler
Video Credits: 00Group+Iruler
Construction Photo Credits: 00Group+Wide Horizon
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