aa market

Zhu Wenqiao

• Architects

aa market sits on the rooftop of RICHAUS.Chongqing is a city shaped by its terrain. Amid the urban density, we turned our gaze inward and upward—toward the rooftops we rarely reach.The rooftop is more than a coordinate—it implies independence and freedom. Those who choose to come here share an unspoken affinity with what aa market stands for.

Public Ground-Plane System

aa market occupies the top floor of RICHAUS. We retained the existing concrete structure and reorganized the 3,000 sqm volume into a vertical three tier system. At the upper level, the space functions like a “three dimensional magazine”—kept editable and open to ongoing renewal.

Entering aa market, one first encounters a public plaza about 8 meters deep, connecting to the surrounding spaces in all directions. Much of the atrium is given over to public gathering, with ample seating tucked into various corners. We hope this "extended social space" can serve as an extension of urban publicness.

Sociologist Erving Goffman described interpersonal interactions in public space as a form of “dramaturgical performance.” The designer’s task, then, is to provide a sufficiently inclusive “stage.”

Clusters of plants and furniture create intimate micro fields of calm. Beneath the greenery, at the turns of the space, people always find a place to sit, to stay, to naturally become part of the scene.We hope to preserve a pocket of ease within the urban density—where neighbors can wander and sit together, unhurriedly.

Moving inward, the plaza gradually narrows into a 2.4 meter main walkway, interspersed with narrower 1.4 meter side paths. Storefronts along the route open up with full glass façades. Public areas are no longer mere corridors connecting commerce—they become editable, fluid interfaces that interweave with brands, flexible enough to host markets, pop ups, and other events.

Walking itself becomes a way of browsing, judging, and participating. Moving through the space feels like flipping through a magazine—a kaleidoscopic experience where walking becomes a weaving of the unknown and the imagined.

Although we predefined the circulation, unexpected paths still emerge as people move through. Visitors navigate by their own intuition—discovering hidden corners, and engaging with the space at different heights and angles.

Vertical Landscape System

At the heart of this vertical gesture stands a single tree. In the **"Little Tree Garden"** at the center of the plaza, we removed part of the slab to create a double height void—opening up vertical space for a tall jacaranda tree. Its canopy reaches through both levels: upward toward the sky, downward into a space wrapped in greenery.

To make this garden truly “breathe,” we invested significant effort. We cut through the roof slab, reinforced waterproofing, and planted the jacaranda. The tree planter's load was recalculated and redistributed to the beams via a structural suspension system. The rooftop, originally unsuitable for planting, was fitted with a rain shelter, while louvers and mechanical ventilation ensure a continuous flow of air.

In ancient times, gatherings often began around a great stone or a towering tree—the tree itself held a magnetic presence. People would rest and gather beneath its canopy, feeling the lush breath of its leaves. This, more than anything, is the spirit that fills the space.

The final flight of stairs leads up to the rooftop garden. Rugged stone paving, planting clusters, and glass pavilions form a garden above the city—a continuation of the building's public life as it grows upward.

Natural nodes of varying scales are embedded along the walkway—small in area, yet they bring greenery and a breath of life. Daylight, plants, and the moist air together create an ecological space for rest and restoration. This continues Vari Architects' longstanding approach to naturalistic construction—making architecture a connection between people, nature, and the city.

Vertical Circulation System

The staircase running through the space is itself a key public node. Metal handrails, wooden treads, and steel plate components together form the stair system—offering platforms for pause along the way.The sequenced metal railings create overlapping lines in section, building a sense of order and linking the various nodes through a linear logic.

Taking the stairs to the second floor, the corridor forms an elevated path that widens and narrows around the stairwell, shops, and terraces. With limited ceiling height, we meticulously arranged service lines overhead to maintain a sense of openness and order. What might have been constraints—low ceilings, exposed ducts, structure, and corners—were instead turned into spatial layers with a more intimate scale, a quieter atmosphere, and a clearer invitation to linger.

To achieve a sense of openness, we removed part of the second-floor walls and installed large windows, allowing light and views to flow into the space.

Joints and Materials

Structurally, aa market is almost a straightforward framework—each component and element participates in the whole with its own material and character.

Pipes, joints, railings, and handrails are openly expressed. You can clearly see the seams between concrete and steel, the connections between beams and columns, the forces and joints of the metal. We treat the process of construction as an aesthetic language, not merely as a tool for solving architectural problems.

The original walls, beams, and columns—along with traces of repair—are all preserved. The concrete structure is layered with raw-textured materials: reclaimed wood, aged steel plates, and vintage merbau timber.

aa market's local character lies not in superficial forms, but in the use of local materials and craftsmanship—it is woven from the fabric of the place.

Rooftop Renewal

In our city, there is a group of friends—independent in their aesthetic judgment, seeking a public space that carries the temperament of its creators. So we transformed the rooftop of our own studio into aa market—both a “possible gathering place” for them, and a space that fulfills our own daily needs.

Once aa market went into operation, we watched it function like a plug in system inserted into the rooftop. Design no longer serves efficiency—it returns to the human scale, to nature, to shared experiences of living. For us, aa market remains in a continuous state of “making”—a living sample that evolves through doing and reflection.

A city’s character lies not only in its well known façades, but also in its interiors. With this small intervention, we hope to gradually shift the temperature of the surrounding context.