Platinum Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2025
Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture
- A' Design Award 2025 Platinum Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: 00Group
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 867,920
- Verification code F1ECA0ACB2 · Verify this award
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.
Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture by 00GROUP emerges as a distinguished contribution to contemporary commercial typology, representing an ambitious synthesis of civic aspiration and retail pragmatism that elevates the shopping center paradigm toward genuine placemaking. The work positions itself within evolving discourse surrounding sustainable urbanism and biophilic design, demonstrating how commercial architecture might transcend purely transactional functions to establish meaningful urban landmarks that serve community identity formation. The crowning circular element—perhaps this project's most audacious formal gesture—recalls the ancient symbolic power of the ring as a form suggesting completeness, continuity, and cosmic order, while its material treatment in reflective metallic surfaces engages contemporary parametric design vocabularies and sustainable technology integration. Technical accomplishment reveals itself through the sophisticated calibration of warm material tones against cool atmospheric conditions, creating chromatic vibrancy that persists despite overcast lighting scenarios. The compositional intelligence evident in peripheral landscape integration demonstrates understanding of edge conditions as critical thresholds between public and private, natural and constructed realms. One observes in the angular retail pavilions flanking the central form a deliberate counterpoint strategy, where rectilinear geometries and cantilevered volumes create visual tension that animates the overall ensemble. The generous plaza spaces suggest programmatic commitment to pedestrian experience and social congregation, positioning commerce within frameworks of civic participation rather than mere consumption. Thematic resonances extend toward concepts of the contemporary agora—marketplace as public forum—while the distinctive silhouette promises legibility within urban memory, offering wayfinding presence that transcends utilitarian signage. How might such architectural ambition reshape expectations for commercial development, and what responsibilities emerge when retail infrastructure assumes civic landmark status within evolving metropolitan contexts?
Press Kit
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 - Patents
- The design is protected under copyright by 00GROUP.
Copyrights belong to Jing Xu and Gang Liu, 2024.
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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.
G0E23 ShopGrand Interview about Cosmic Creek Commercial Architecture
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 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.
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.
The geometric ring was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of the traditional urban gathering space. Rather than functioning solely as an iconic object, it acts as a spatial device that frames views, creates identity, and organizes public activities.The ring establishes a visual anchor within the development while encouraging movement between different levels and destinations. It symbolizes connection—between architecture and landscape, commerce and culture, visitors and the city—and helps redefine the commercial center as an urban public realm rather than a purely retail environment.
The project integrates a diverse range of planting environments, public green spaces, water landscapes, and shaded gathering areas to establish a layered ecological framework throughout the site. These elements work together to improve environmental quality, enrich biodiversity, and create more comfortable public spaces.For us, sustainability is not only about performance metrics; it is also about fostering meaningful relationships between people, nature, and the urban environment. The ecological network therefore becomes an integral part of both the spatial identity and everyday experience of the project.
Chengdu's cultural identity is inseparable from water. From the Dujiangyan irrigation system to the city's historic waterways, water has long shaped both urban development and daily life.Our design draws inspiration from these traditions by using water as an organizing principle rather than a decorative feature. The project's flowing spatial sequences, interconnected public spaces, and ecological strategies all reflect the idea that water can structure human activities while fostering harmony between the built and natural environment.
Maintaining human scale across a 100,000-square-meter development was one of the project's central challenges. Instead of creating a singular monumental complex, we divided the program into a series of interconnected neighborhoods, courtyards, terraces, and public rooms.This strategy allows visitors to experience the project at multiple scales. Large urban gestures establish identity and connectivity, while smaller spaces encourage exploration, social interaction, and a sense of intimacy. We believe successful public environments must feel both memorable and approachable.
The cascading waterfalls are designed to engage visitors through multiple senses. Beyond their visual presence, they introduce movement, sound, humidity, and changing reflections that enrich the environment throughout the day and across seasons.These elements help transform the commercial district into a destination rather than simply a place for consumption. By encouraging people to linger, gather, and explore, the waterfalls contribute to longer visitor engagement and support a more vibrant public life.
We hope Cosmic Creek demonstrates that future commercial developments can function as ecological infrastructure and civic space simultaneously. Urban projects should no longer prioritize commercial efficiency alone; they should also contribute to environmental resilience, public well-being, and cultural identity.As cities continue to densify, we believe integrated systems of landscape, water, architecture, and public life will become increasingly important. Cosmic Creek represents one possible model for this future.
The terraced organization was informed by both the site's natural topography and our ambition to create a three-dimensional public realm. Rather than concentrating activity on a single ground plane, we distributed social spaces across multiple elevations.Circulation routes were designed as experiential journeys that continuously reveal new views, landscapes, and destinations. By layering movement and public activities vertically, the project encourages exploration and creates opportunities for interaction between different user groups throughout the development.