MAD aims to blend the congress center into its mountainous surroundings by echoing the snow-capped hills into the rippling silver-white roof shell. The tent-like structure reaches a maximum height of 24 meters.
The Congress Center is initiated by the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum. The platform that includes well-known entrepreneurs such as Jack Ma (Alibaba), Robin Li (Baidu), Yang Yuanqing (Lenovo) and Lei Jun (Xiaomi) gather in Yabuli every winter for a summit referred to as “The Davos of China”.
The project is located in a ski resort with the longest alpine ski slope in Asia. The Center includes two large auditoriums, an exhibition hall, meeting rooms, and a television hall.
The venue can be used to host conferences, corporate training, and other business related events. The exhibition hall is open to the public and showcases Chinese entrepreneurship.
Floor-to-ceiling curtain walls open up towards the east and west sides looking down the slopes. ETFE is integrated into the curtain walling to diffuse the light. The north and south sides are sunken into the hill.
A large skylight floods the wooden-clad foyers with natural light. Thanks to the acoustic design of the wood panels with 0.4 mm micro-perforations, the area can function as a temporary performance space.
At night the glazed canopy functions as a light beacon. According to the architects, it evokes the image of a campfire around which entrepreneurs can gather to share thoughts and ideas.
An entirely column-free main conference hall can accommodate nearly 1,000 people. The smaller 350-seat auditorium is fitted with a large LED screan that can be opened to reveal the surroundings as a backdrop.
For the interiors MAD wanted to set a soft and warm atmosphere with a combination of wood and natural light. Windows throughout the interiors are strategically placed to offer uninterrupted panoramic views of the surrounding natural landscape.
