Alibaba Hangzhou South Lake Future Sci-Tech Park——U-shaped Glass

Alibaba Hangzhou South Lake Future Sci-Tech Park is located on the west bank of South Lake in Yuhang District, Hangzhou. As the first headquarters park of Alibaba DAMO Academy, it was designed by Aedas and completed in 2023, covering a total area of 22.8 hectares.

With the design concept of "A Leaf Adrift, Coexistence in Cycles", the park features a leaf vein-like overall layout that blends seamlessly with the natural environment of South Lake. U-shaped glass is mainly applied in the curved screen of the "Enlightenment Tree" courtyard, serving as a key visual element in the narrative structure of the "Dharma Path" in the landscape design.

The "Enlightenment Tree" courtyard is the core node of the park's cultural narrative. Here, U-shaped glass takes the form of a curved screen, which, together with the circular pool and seats, forms a repeated circular motif, enhancing the spatial centripetal force and spirituality.

The translucent property of U-shaped glass echoes the park's location "between mountains and waters", achieving "visual penetration" between architecture and nature. Its modern industrial texture matches Alibaba's positioning as a technology enterprise. Meanwhile, its self-supporting characteristic reduces the need for supporting structures, enhancing the sense of spatial lightness.

The interplay of virtuality and reality of the curved U-shaped glass screen implicitly aligns with the spatial philosophy of "separation without isolation" in traditional Chinese gardens, forming an inherent resonance with the oriental narrative structure of the park including the "Dharma Path, Dharma Circle and Dharma Corridor".