On the coast of the Yellow Sea in Yantai, China, OPEN Architecture has unveiled the Sun Tower, a sculptural and multi-functional cultural venue shaped by light, time, and memory. Rising 50 meters above the shoreline, the structure marks a new chapter in the Yeda Development Zone, serving as a gathering point for residents and visitors alike while redefining the coastal skyline with both symbolism and clarity of purpose.
INSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECTURE
The Sun Tower is a spatial narrative that reconnects the public with cosmic rhythms and ecological awareness. Its conical form, constructed from two slanted concrete shells, houses an outdoor theatre, exhibitions, a library, café, bar, and a viewing deck known as the Phenomena Space. Its concept is rooted in ancient Chinese traditions of sun worship and the historic coastal watchtowers of the Ming Dynasty, drawing a line between ancient cosmology and contemporary civic space.
With structural engineering by Arup, the building’s orientation is precisely calibrated to solar events. The northern edge aligns with the midday sun during equinoxes; the entrance tunnel frames the setting sun at the Winter Solstice; and the semi-outdoor theatre’s central axis points directly to the sunrise over Zhifu Island during the Summer Solstice. These design decisions reinforce a physical and symbolic relationship between the public and the passing of time.
OPEN Architecture heightens this connection through spatial sequencing and acoustic sensitivity. The amphitheatre, nestled at the base of the tower, channels the amplified sound of the sea from the inner concave shell. At ground level, a plaza etched with elliptical rings and water channels functions as a contemporary sundial. These markers trace the shadows of the building during equinoxes and solar terms, merging timekeeping with interactive public space.
Above, the Phenomena Space crowns the structure with a contemplative void, a circular oculus open to the sky allows rainwater to fall into a shallow pool, creating a quiet moment of reflection. This space, together with the library and exhibition galleries along the spiraling ramp, completes the sensory journey. The exhibition zones are supported by integrated digital displays and flexible hanging systems, designed with adaptive cultural programming in mind.
In addition to its spatial poetry, the Sun Tower also incorporates passive climate strategies. Tunnel cooling, cross-ventilation, and the use of concrete’s thermal mass reduce the building’s energy footprint. Chimney effect ventilation expels hot air naturally, reflecting the building’s alignment with nature not just in form but in function.
For founders Huang Wenjing and Li Hu, the Sun Tower serves as an instrument for spiritual reconnection in a rapidly modernizing urban context. In its ambition and execution, the project speaks to a larger mission: restoring belief in nature’s rhythms as essential to both cultural vitality and ecological resilience. In Yantai, OPEN Architecture has delivered a public space that operates as observatory, theatre, library, and calendar, offering a framework to reimagine how architecture can shape collective awareness.
