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Skyboat Cafè, Terrassa d'Observacion by Xin Yuan

Skyboat Cafè, Terrassa d'Observacion by Xin Yuan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award d'Aur in Arquitectura Competition Category.


AurArquitectura· 2022

Skyboat Cafè, Terrassa d'Observacion

by Xin Yuan

Client: XinY structural consultants

A' Design Award d'Aur Winner in Arquitectura Category

Colors

The Design

About Skyboat Cafè, Terrassa d'Observacion

Skyboat es un bastiment de dos estatges situat en dessús d'una dolina de 613 mètres de prigondor a Leye, en China. Las cambras d'ostalariá son plaçadas al rès de sòl, un cafè al primièr estatge e una plataforma de vista sus la teulada. La plataforma inclutz un sòl de veire practicable que mesura 10 per 12,5 mètres. Lo bastiment traversa lo passatge estrech al cim de la dolina e fa portafals de 34 mètres e 22 mètres de cada costat de la cresta de la montanha. Un centre de gravitat bas permet a l'estructura de s'equilibrar ela meteissa. Solament cinc supòrts son utilizats, çò que limita los damatges a las plantas localas.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award d'Aur

Skyboat Cafè, Terrassa d'Observacion a ganhat la distincion A' Design Award d'Aur, una reconeissença immensament prestigiosa acordada a de designs de primièra qualitat, meravilhoses e excellents. Los ganhaires de l'Aur son de creacions extrèmament innovantas, visionàrias e esbleugissentas, que reflectisson lo prodigi, la sabença e la proeça de lors designers. S'espèra que Skyboat Cafè, Terrassa d'Observacion siá una invencion fòrça lausada, que dintra de tendéncias e monumentala, que provesís un valor sens precedent. Aqueste design ganhaire de la distincion A' Design Award d'Aur es un projècte espectaclós e respectat, que fa un grand ben e fa avançar las frontièras de l'art, de la sciéncia, del design e de la tecnologia. Skyboat Cafè, Terrassa d'Observacion crea de sentiments intensos de desirs, evòca la passion, encoratja la creativitat e fascina.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
The structure cantilevers 36m over the 613m deep sinkhole. The top of the sinkhole is extremely narrow which can only accommodate a small passageway. Skyboat is proposed to span over the passageway and cantilever out to each side of the mountain ridge. Similar to the tumbler toys, it is proposed to lower the structure centre of gravity and utilize the minimum area (10metres by 30metres), in which way, the self-balance of the structure is therefore achieved.
Dimensions & Packaging
two-storey building consisting of hotel rooms at the ground floor, a café at the first floor and a roof viewing platform which contains a 10metre-by-12.5metre walk-on glass floor. The building comprises a construction area of 495m2 and covers a plan dimension of 10metres by 80metres. Both ends of the building cantilevers out by 34metres and 22metres respectively. The total steel weight used is 438 tonne.
Tags
Skyboat, XinY, Glass floor, Cantilever, Leye, Dashiwei
Production Technology
There are only five supports proposed. This minimizes the damages to the local vegetation.

To protect the local plants and rivers, hanging falsework was used during the construction stage and to have the structural members installed by pieces.
Design Challenge
The structure cantilevers 36m over the 613m deep sinkhole. The top of the sinkhole(the site)is extremely narrow which can only accommodate a small passageway.
A long crack at the site indicates the site is not stable. Apart from grouting the existing crack, it is also proposed to have the key struts at each ends of the building inclining towards the ridge, the horizontal component forces from which then provided the embracing forces to the ridge and hence improved the stability of the site.
Research
The structural system and component arrangements were adapted to the force distribution, perfectly aligned with the elegant architectural geometry.
By increasing the key strut lengths, the pre-cambering of the front cantilever structure is then achieved, which can compensate the deflections under the dead loads and some of the live loads. This also protects the glazings from large deformations.
Inspiration
A big goose, a e tumbler toy.

The long crack at the top of the ridge indicates the site is not stable. Apart from grouting the existing crack, it is also proposed to have the key struts at each ends of the building inclining towards the ridge, the horizontal component forces from which then provided the embracing forces to the ridge and hence improved the stability of the site.
Project Duration
The project started on 2018 in Leye China and finished on 2019.
Operation Flow
Visitors can enjoy coffee in the beauty of nature, or they can walk on the glass floor above the 600-meter deep pit to experience the shock of their heartbeats.
Team Members
Structural Engineers:XinY & Yuanlizhu
Client:Guangxi Leye DashiWei
Architect:Zhong Huaying Studio
Codesign:LiLi & Shanghai ZhongJian Architectural Design
Principal Contractor:China Railway 25th Group 6th Company
Image Credits
Image#1: Photographer Li Jin, Yongheng,2019.
Image#2: Photographer Yongheng, Yongheng,2019.
Image#3: Photographer Yongheng, Yongheng,2019.
Image#4: Photographer Xin Yuan, XinY,2019.
Image#5: Photographer Yongheng, Yongheng,2019.
Video Credits: Yongheng

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