A landmark community hub in Kunming fuses retail, culture, and public space under one giant roof.
A New Town Centre under One Roof
Located in southern Kunming near Dian Lake, Duhui Peninsula Town Centre integrates urban vitality with ecological tranquillity. CLOU architects designed the central retail and social core for client Vanke, aiming to prefigure future community life. The project reimagines commercial typologies into a social landscape where local culture, architecture and daily life converge beneath an expansive roof structure that draws inspiration from the migratory birds of Dian Lake.
A Roof that Symbolises Homecoming
Situated in the southern core of Kunming, adjacent to the main urban artery Erji Road and bordering the Dian Lake ecological zone, the Duhui Peninsula project capitalises on dual advantages of urban prosperity and natural serenity. CLOU architects was commissioned to plan and design the town centre, forming the heart of the district’s commercial and social life.
Drawing on the annual migration of red-billed gulls to Dian Lake, the undulating roof form is both functional and symbolic. The deep eaves shelter from the elements while forming an architectural gesture of return and belonging. More than a building, the roof becomes a contemporary emblem of community and continuity.
Retail Meets Community Life
Breaking the boundaries between commerce, public life and domesticity, the architectural layout is open and inclusive. Retail units are conceived as “boxes” embedded within the broader urban narrative—offering tea, food, convenience services and a sales lounge. Together they form a 24-hour, all-age-friendly environment where everyday encounters become community rituals.
Framing the Journey Home
A ceremonial spatial sequence guides visitors from a grand 6-metre porch to a quiet lobby, into a courtyard and finally to domestic spaces. This gradual shift in scale and transparency evokes a narrative of arrival and belonging. The composition blends traditional Chinese spatial concepts with contemporary lifestyle needs.
Programme for a Future Community
The scheme includes themed spaces for children, study, and other shared uses, responding to the evolving demands of a diverse residential population. The town centre is not merely a place for consumption, but a prelude to the ideal life envisioned for the wider development.
By merging landmark architecture with cultural storytelling and communal experience, the Duhui Peninsula Town Centre becomes both a destination and a prototype. It showcases how architecture can express identity, stimulate interaction, and accommodate future growth—under one generous roof that bridges tradition and modernity.
A Lush Homecoming Experience
The design blends the concept of frame view and shifting scenes through different height spatial form, creating a four-stage homecoming experience. A 6-meter-high porch forms a bold community entrance, while offering a peaceful, natural homecoming inside.
