Shanghai Auto Expo Park RV Club
The building sits in a Recreational Vehicle campground at the north of the Shanghai Auto Expo Park.
Since 1936 when the first Airstream “Clipper” was born in California, RV camping has been winning wide popularity among western families. Loved by a small part of Chinese families, RVs are considered to have great potential in China. With the support from SAIC (Shanghai International Automobile City) and Campgrounds of China, the building was not only conceived to be a management support for the campground, but also a culture club that promotes the RV lifestyle to a wider audience.
The irregular quadrangle footprint reacts to its surroundings. The closed back blocks the city traffic to its north, while the open façade faces the greenery of the park on the south. This club is intended for both the club members and the general public, therefore the building is seeking a balance between exclusiveness and inclusiveness.
The structural design further enforces spatial ambiguity; vertical loads are supported by steel members, while sheer forces are managed by the Douglas fir structural system that is used from the facade walls to the pitched roof. Steel I-beams are being used in areas with a large span, freed from load-bearing walls and slabs.
The upper part of the double height wall is lined with perforated panels to subtly connect the spaces on the two sides when light shines through and reveals the steel frame inside. As a result, the building is a hybrid of a house and a pavilion.
