Printed Glass Wall Panels

Zhongyu Plaza

Vincent van Gogh - Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers Zhongyu Plaza

Printed Area

6,800 sqm / 73,195 sqf

Number of Panels

3,000

Colors

Digital Mix

Glass Type

Ultra Clear

Completed

2015

Two Rivers Converge in a Mesmerizing Cultural Showcase

Project Partners

Glass Processor
South Bright Glass, China

Architect/Designer
Ballistic Architecture Machine (BAM

Consult Our Architects

The two graphic rivers meet at the entrance of the plaza –the focal point of the project – encouraging people to enter and explore.

Aiming to make a bold visual statement with the façade of their new mall, the developers of Zhongyu Plaza knew from the start that they had to look beyond traditional screen-printing. After a short selection process, they decided that Dip-Tech digital ceramic printing technology was the way to go. As proposed by China Jianghe Curtain Wall Company, the Dip-Tech solution supported their vision for a spectacular curtain wall integrating elements of local geography and culture. Importantly, it also met the energy saving functional requirements.

The stunning visual installation that comprises the shopping mall’s outer surface was printed in 14 weeks, and opened to the public in time for the Chinese Spring Festival, in February 2015. At night, a dynamic LED show plays on the Zhongyu Plaza walls, mesmerizing passersby with its display of two flowing rivers (symbolizing the rivers that flow into the Chongqing province), and the changing of four seasons.

Reflecting on traditional Chinese painting style, the base of the graphic is a fluid pattern utilizing a cool grey blue and white as the primary colors, with zones of bright or deep color to further enhance the depth and fluidity.

Inspired by Nature
The concept for the retail podium is two rivers coming together, referring to Chongqing’s two rivers – the Jialing and the Yangtze. The two rivers are expressed as a graphic on the façade of the building. For an added practical touch, they meet at the entrance of the plaza, which is the focal point of the project, encouraging people to enter and explore.

Further inspiration was found in traditional Chinese painting. At the Zhongyu Plaza this is reflected in the way the mountains, water and mist are intertwined, and the transitions from one to the other are fluid and mysterious. Reflecting on traditional Chinese painting style, the base of the graphic is a fluid pattern utilizing a cool grey blue and white as the primary colors, with zones of bright or deep color to further enhance the depth and fluidity.

3,000 Panels Create Quite the Impression
A huge number of glass panels (3,000) were used in the construction of the Zhongyu Plaza shopping mall, with the average glass panel measuring 2.4 sqm.

A huge number of glass panels (3,000) were used in the construction of the Zhongyu Plaza shopping mall, with the average glass panel measuring 2.4 sqm (26 sqf). This made it an interesting and challenging project. Different types of glass coating were used including: 8mm Ultra Clear Glass digital printing enameled star image 2#+1.52PVB+8mm, Ultra Clear Glass +12A structural adhesive +8mm, and Ultra Clear Glass double silver LOW-E5# three flat tempered. All printing was done via pixelated graphic printing on glass. Amazingly, it took only 14 weeks to complete printing, which went as smoothly as the resulting flowing graphics themselves.