Osmosis Isikhungo Sezokuvakasha ngu-Cen Shen and Changsong Li

Umdwebo Osmosis Isikhungo Sezokuvakasha ngu-Cen Shen and Changsong Li ungumnqobi ohlonishwa kakhulu womklomelo odumile we-2026 Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award Esigabeni Somncintiswano se-Ukudizayina Ezokwakha, Izakhiwo Nezinhlaka.

IbhulonziEzokwakha· 2026

Osmosis Isikhungo Sezokuvakasha

ngu Cen Shen and Changsong Li

Iklayenti: Changsong Li & Cen Shen

Umnqobi we-Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award Esigabeni se-Ezokwakha

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Umnqobi Womklomelo Oqinisekisiwe

Qinisekisa Isimo Somklomelo se-#182593

Buka ku-A' Design Award Isitatimende Sabezindaba Ibheji Yomklomelo

Imibala

Ukuklama

Mayelana ne-Osmosis Isikhungo Sezokuvakasha

I-Osmosis iyisikhungo sezokuvakasha nezemfundo esise-El Paso, eTexas. Umklamo uthole ugqozi kwijiyomethri yechibi elomile endaweni eyugwadule yesifunda. Izindawo ezingaphezulu eziphilayo ziguqulwe zaba amajiyomethri anesimo sekhoni anemigqa eqondile, ukuze uphahla olumagagasi lwakhiwe ngemishayo yensimbi eqondile namaphaneli ahlukanisiwe. Imisele efihlekile ngaphakathi kwemiphetho yophahla iqoqa amanzi emvula. Izindonga ezisindayo zomhlabathi ogxushiwe zihlanganiswe nezindonga zengilazi ezinobude obuphelele. Uhlelo lwendawo olunezimbotshana luhlelwe luzungeze igceke elimaphakathi, luxhumanisa izivakashi nendawo ezungezile.

Ukuqashelwa

Mayelana ne-Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award

Osmosis Isikhungo Sezokuvakasha iwinile uMklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile kakhulu okunikezwa imiklamo ephawulekayo eyehlukaniswa ukudala, ubuhlakani nobukhali bengqondo. Abawinile beBhulonzi yimisebenzi enobuchule obukhulu nedala ngokumangalisayo eqinisekisa isipiliyoni esibanzi, umcabango nobuhlakani babaklami babo. Osmosis Isikhungo Sezokuvakasha ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo, enobungcweti obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu ebuciko, esayensi, ekuklameni nasebuchwepheshe futhi uhamba phambili ngenxa yokunaka kwawo imininingwane. Osmosis Isikhungo Sezokuvakasha iyanelisa izidingo ngokumangalisayo, ithinta izifiso, iheha imizwa futhi ikhanga ukufuna ukwazi.

Ngemuva Kokuklama

Iphakheji Yabezindaba

Ama-credit, amalungu eqembu nemininingwane yobuchwepheshe ehlinzekwe ngumklami.

Izici Ezihlukile: Reflecting the concept of osmosis, the center's non-centric layout allows tourists to feel like an integral part of the landscape. By contrasting heavy rammed earth with transparent all-glass walls, the architecture dissolves physical barriers, fully absorbing visitors into the terrain. Additionally, the undulating roof responds directly to El Paso’s arid climate, utilizing concealed gutters for a vital water collection system that ensures long-term ecological resilience.
Izilinganiso Nokupakisha: Osmosis is a large-scale civic infrastructure organized around a central radial courtyard. The technical envelope combines high thermal mass rammed earth walls and expansive structural glazing, optimized for arid climates. The conical roof spans are constructed using straight steel beams mapped to conical generators, supporting modular panels and concealed stormwater gutters. The facility houses tourism and education centre function spaces.
Amathegi: Parametric Architecture, Migrant Service Center, Geometric Rationalization, Conical Geometry, Porous Space, Rammed Earth Construction, Sustainable Infrastructure, Border Architecture
Ubuchwepheshe Bokukhiqiza: Osmosis uses geometric rationalization to translate organic surfaces into ruled conical geometries. Mapping a structural grid along the cones' straight-line generators allows efficient construction of complex curvature using straight members and modular roof panels. Concealed gutters within the roof's edges preserve the undulating canopy's seamless purity, while full-height glass walls dissolve visual boundaries to maintain an uninterrupted connection with the landscape.
Inselele Yokudweba: The main challenge was translating fluid ecological concepts into buildable architecture. Socially, the design shifts historical paradigms of environmental exploitation toward ecological education. Externally, harsh regional climates dictated strict parameters. Production limits were overcome using advanced parametric technology, rationalizing complex undulating curvatures into modular conical geometries to enable cost-efficient construction using strictly straight steel members.
Ucwaningo: This applied research designed a cost-efficient, climate-responsive sanctuary. Using structural, solar, and sightline simulations alongside climate data, various roof geometries were tested. Simulated tourist viewpoints, water-saving calculations, and material metrics determined the optimal shape. Results proved this form maximizes daylight control, water harvesting, and nature views while significantly reducing structural costs. This offers an economical, ecological hub that deeply absorbs visitors.
Ugqozi: The primary inspiration for this project stems from the severe environmental crises of water depletion and soil salinization in the arid landscapes of El Paso. Observing the profound disconnect between human infrastructure—specifically the forceful industrial separation of water and salt through desalination—and the fragile ecosystems it occupies, the design emerged as an architectural counter-narrative.

Operating as an ecological tourism and education center, the project is motivated by the need to attract visitors while actively educating the public about these pressing environmental urgencies. The central motive is to foster a profound union between humanity and the natural environment through the conceptual framework of "osmosis," seeking to heal the separation between people and the ecology they inhabit.

Furthermore, the formal language and shape of the building are directly inspired by the El Paso terrain itself, capturing the stark realities of regional water scarcity. Specifically, the architectural massing and undulating rooflines draw upon the distinct geometry of a dry pond, serving as a direct visual and spatial allusion to the parched earth and the environmental narrative driving the design.
Ubude Bephrojekthi: Developed as an architectural project in 2023 , Osmosis is situated at El Paso, Texas.
Ukuhamba Kokusebenza: This undulating canopy transforms flat surfaces into a flowing wave. It isn't "operated" by machines, but by nature: visitors interact by walking beneath its shifting heights, moving between airy, sunlit peaks and shaded, intimate dips. It performs significantly better than a standard flat roof because these precise curves naturally channel rare rainwater into concealed edges and optimize cooling airflow, creating a highly efficient, climate-responsive desert oasis.
Amalungu Eqembu: Changsong Li, Cen Shen
Amakhredithi Ezithombe: Image #1: Creators Changsong Li and Cen Shen, Osmosis: Dissolving The Borderline, 2023.
Image #2: Creators Changsong Li and Cen Shen, Osmosis: Dissolving The Borderline, 2023.
Image #3: Creators Changsong Li and Cen Shen, Osmosis: Dissolving The Borderline, 2023.
Image #4: Creators Changsong Li and Cen Shen, Osmosis: Dissolving The Borderline, 2023.
Image #5: Creators Changsong Li and Cen Shen, Osmosis: Dissolving The Borderline, 2023.