City Heart: A Unique Approach to City Exhibition Design

Designer Ling Zhou's Innovative Exhibition Hall in Chongqing, China

The inspiration for City Heart came from a city exhibition that asked Ling Zhou to create a design that would allow people to understand the city in a new way. Rather than viewing the city from the designer's perspective, Zhou wanted to allow people to see things they had never seen before through the eyes of the city. This shift in perspective, Zhou believes, allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the city and its unique language.

What sets City Heart apart from other designs is its integration of the characteristics and features of the city of Chongqing. The exhibition hall, covering an area of 90 square meters, uses soil and steel to express the city's essence. The use of these materials is not only symbolic but also a call to action for the protection of the earth's environment and limited resources.

The realization of City Heart was a meticulous process. The use of soil as a wall material was a key aspect of the design. The worn-out steel was folded and bent into specific shapes to express the city's passion and pay tribute to its builders. The entire project required on-site production and coordination, with a particular focus on the shape and surface texture treatment of the soil.

Despite the challenges, such as the need to avoid visual symbols like hotpot and fog typically associated with Chongqing, Zhou was able to create an immersive experience. Hundreds of small pieces of acrylic were stacked to form continuous peaks and hazy fog, presenting the city in a new light. The design is a testament to Zhou's belief that design should be the expression of moral.

City Heart is a reflection of Zhou's understanding of a city. It is a tribute to the city's past and a glimpse into its future. The design was awarded Silver in the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation. The copyrights for City Heart belong to Ling Zhou, and the images were captured by photographer Aoxiang Xie.