Located in the commercial core of Chongqing’s new Lijia area, the Ark of Light is an exhibition center that combines complex structural engineering, parametric solutions, and landscape integration within a 950 m² building.

Originally conceived as a sales center for LongFor Waterfront City, the space is set to become a public facility dedicated to commerce and cultural exhibitions, reflecting the dynamism of Chongqing’s contemporary urban life.

The architectural concept draws inspiration from the local landscape through the metaphors of the “Ark” and the “Stone,” formally reinterpreted with futuristic lines. To create a continuous, column-free interior space, the structural solution employed a steel truss system with spans of up to 34 meters, enabling cantilevers of up to 15 meters.

Parametric design guided the composition of the building’s skin: perforated aluminum panels with varying scales of openings form a surface that resembles a translucent, lightweight fabric.

More than just an exhibition center, the Ark of Light brings together architecture, engineering, and landscape to propose a new urban image for Chongqing—one in which technical innovation supports the city’s symbolic and cultural expression.