Interviews with 00group
Designer profileGrand Interview
15 June 2026 · 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.
