In the Wujin Green Industrial District in Changzhou, the Chinese authorities organised the 1st International Green/Ecological Building Competition (IGEBC) to build a model neighbourhood of sustainable buildings. Barberio Colella Architetti, in collaboration with Angelo Figliola, won Lot 14 with a proposal that overturns the conventional relationship between building and nature: instead of adding greenery as decoration, they make it the heart of the bioclimatic system.
The design strategy stems from a precise observation: in conventional office buildings, workers lose all sense of time and the seasons. BCA’s solution is a fifteen-metre-high double-skin facade of structural glass, within which a continuous line of living bamboo grows. This ‘bamboo line’ is not merely an aesthetic feature: it is a bioclimatic device that controls the amount of solar radiation in a diffused manner, eliminating glare and reducing the thermal load on surfaces facing east, west and south.
Its operation is seasonal. In winter, the double-skin facade accumulates solar heat in the air cavity between the two glass walls, preheating the air before it enters the interior spaces. In summer, the system works in reverse: natural ventilation flows through the cavity, carrying away excess heat, whilst the bamboo shades the transparent surfaces. On the north side, a solid, well-insulated opaque building envelope protects against cold winds. The result is a building that drastically reduces dependence on mechanical systems, achieving a PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) of -0.01 — practically neutral, the maximum possible thermal comfort.
The entire load‑bearing structure is made of glued laminated bamboo with concealed metal connections, prioritising the use of local renewable resources. The 816 m² building houses offices, meeting rooms, a conference room, lounge areas and a double‑height reception space spread over four floors, overlooking a 70 m² inner garden. The roof, covered with PV film, collects rainwater for reuse. The competition jury — which included Mario Cucinella and Stefan Behnisch — selected the project from among 147 teams from 11 countries, recognising BCA’s proposal as a replicable model of office architecture where sustainability is not an afterthought, but the principle that generates the form.
Technical specifications
· Location: Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
· Year: 2018–2019
· Client: Chinese Sustainable Design Centre Building Materials Design & Research Institute
· Typology: Office building
· Floor area: 816 m²
· Green area: 70 m²
· Status: Winning concept in international competition + professional commission
· Designers: Maurizio Barberio, Micaela Colella (Barberio Colella ARC)
· Collaborators: Angelo Figliola (design and environmental analysis)
· Awards: Winner of Lot 14, 1st International Green/Ecological Building Competition (IGEBC). Jury: Mario Cucinella, Stefan Behnisch. 147 teams from 11 countries.
· Main materials: Glued laminated bamboo (structure), structural glass (double-skin facade), living bamboo (bioclimatic shading), photovoltaic film
