Haikou West Coast Southern Park Visitor Center

Scanning from the distant horizon toward the foreground, this aerial view presents a sweeping tropical landscape dominated by a remarkable white sculptural building positioned at center. The sky occupies the upper half of the composition, transitioning from a warm golden glow at the left horizon, like honey-colored morning light, through dramatic bands of slate gray and deep indigo storm clouds that suggest both weight and movement overhead. Below this theatrical sky, rolling green hills extend into hazy blue distance where water features and roadways curve through the terrain like pale ribbons. The landscape surrounding the central structure consists of dense tropical vegetation in deep forest green and olive tones, punctuated by the distinctive silhouettes of tall palm trees with their feathery crowns. The building itself presents as a continuous white spiral form, its surface smooth and cool-appearing like polished stone or seamless metal, rising approximately two to three stories above ground level. The structure coils around itself creating concentric rings, similar to the chambers of a nautilus shell, with the innermost ring enclosing a garden courtyard visible through the central opening. Horizontal bands articulate the roof surfaces, creating rhythmic parallel lines that wrap around the entire form. The building's western surfaces, facing the warm light, appear bright white while eastern portions settle into softer gray shadow tones. At ground level, small human figures suggest the monumental scale of the structure, appearing as tiny as grains of sand against its sweeping curves. Paved roadways in warm gray tones curve around the site, with vehicles visible as small shapes along the routes. The overall atmosphere feels simultaneously dramatic and serene, the storm clouds providing theatrical tension while the building's graceful form offers calm welcome.

The visitor center was conceived by MUDA-Architects to blend the indigenous spiritual and cultural heritage by respecting coastal and tropical nature ecology of Haikou. Due to the conspicuous location, it was proposed in a catchy shape of an oval pebble for conforming to the context and becoming a landmark to unfold the cityscape. A mirroring form of the local traditional roof was created as a shelter from the tropical climate. Glass curtain wall installed with undulating sunshades, was adopted for facade to save energy, correspond to the coastal feature and provide spacious view to visitors.