Ronald Lu & Partners Wins Guangzhou Substation Design Competition with Sustainable ‘Floating Cloud’ Concept

April 2022, China: Award-winning architecture practice Ronald Lu & Partners, known for its sustainable, human-centric and future-ready designs, has won the International Competition for Landscape and Functional Design for Substations Professional category with its design for the 110kV Panyu Square Substation, in Guangzhou. Organised by the Guangzhou Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau and Guangzhou Power Supply Bureau, academics and architects from across the globe were invited to submit cutting-edge concepts for the redesign of 21 substations across the city.

The 110kV Panyu Square Substation is located in the Zhushan Village area of Panyu City, near the South China Expressway. Although its municipal facilities have gradually improved over the years, the village still lacks public facilities, such as sports fields, health services and elderly community centres. In response to this, Ronald Lu & Partners has introduced the “floating clouds” substation concept – a traditional symbol representing luck and good fortune. In Chinese culture, clouds are seen as having the power to bring disparate energies together. Taking a modern interpretation of this symbol, Ronald Lu & Partners’ substation design reduces the visual pressure of the landscape and incorporates a natural multi-use form that brings the community together, offering public facilities and open spaces to make life better for residents.

The substation’s second-floor platform connects the surrounding village areas to green public spaces, making access convenient, while its services, including tea rooms and electric vehicle charging spaces, sit alongside a communal urban square. Circulation stairs and a green slope connect the communal square to the platform floor, and a science gallery provides a starting point for a guided tour of the station for visitors. Scattered seats on the stairs serve a dual purpose as both a rest area for people, and stadium-type seating for events or gatherings. The platform offers runners and joggers varied terrain, and also acts as a canopy and shelter for people, as well as the vehicles charging below.

The outer wall of the substation is made fromperforated aluminium plates. The design inspiration comes from the various shape of rain clouds – tighter holes represent the tighter structure of a rain cloud’s upper layer, while the lower parts have a looser structure. The aluminium façade facing the square can also act as an interactive screen at night, where short films can be shown.

“Ronald Lu & Partners is redefining the image of substations through considered design. We are highlighting how future designs for municipal public facilities can be sustainable, functional and human-centric. Our proposal for the Panyu Square Substation combines the development of the city with the needs of the community, shortening the distance between municipal facilities and citizens through the power of design. The concept offers the community green urban spaces, sports and fitness facilities, medical care and cultural amenities – this reflects the relationship of coexistence, symbiosis and sharing between the city and its people.” Bryant Lu, Vice Chairman, Ronald Lu & Partners