The san francisco and shanghai offices of AECOM have teamed up to create a spiral that rises from the ground for the 'vanke dreamtown sales house' in xiamen, china. the idea of cut-fill is manifested throughout the project, with a large underground parking left a great deal of excavated land that was transformed into rolling hills throughout the 19-hectare site.
A circular path weaves in and out of these forms, connecting buildings and groundscape. the central show room is itself a spiral through which one circulates, ascending through the display space and cafe, reaching an occupiable green roof where one can look out over the undulating field. in the center, a pond and tree are encircled by the primary stair which connects in and outdoors.
The dialogue between architecture and landscape continues as the project develops. the second phase of the development will erase the temporary earthen mounds to make room for residences on the site, at which point the commercial center will become a clubhouse.