wutopia lab's flickering peak gallery is a trio of luminous 'mountains'

flickering peak: a fresh perspective by wutopia lab

Wutopia Lab has completed an ambitious architectural project called Flickering Peak, situated in Coffee Village, Hainan. The Sun River Art Center, which is cloaked in a semi-transparent white Ferrari facade membrane with three levels of perforation, was constructed on a site once home to a coffee plantation established by overseas Chinese returning from Indonesia. The structure’s visual impact during both day and night has quickly turned it into a cultural landmark, representing miracles and hope within the local community.

The design of the Sun River Art Center originally faced dissatisfaction from the client, leading them to seek out a fresh perspective. The task handed to Wutopia Lab was to create an art gallery that balanced visual appeal with substantive architectural integrity, all within the constraints of an already completed basement and existing structural parameters. The challenge was clear — the new design could not exceed the original building’s load limits or extend beyond the predefined boundaries.

images © LIU Guowei

a pool and three mountains

Coffee Village carries a rich history. It was originally developed by Chinese immigrants who returned from Indonesia during an anti-Chinese movement. These individuals transformed wilderness into a thriving coffee industry, creating a story of resilience and success that resonated deeply with Wutopia Lab. This history, filled with struggle, exile, and eventual triumph, served as a powerful source of inspiration for the project.

The client’s desire for a sea view, despite the inland location of Coffee Village, sparked the concept of creating an artificial sea. Wutopia Lab drew from past work, where a similar idea of ‘a pool and three mountains’ had been realized. For this project, the three buildings in the original plan were reimagined as mountains, with an artificial sea placed before them. This design honors the miraculous achievements of the overseas Chinese community and symbolizes their hope for a prosperous future.

Wutopia Lab’s Flickering Peak is a new cultural landmark for Coffee Village, Hainan

the translucent veil

Among the three original buildings, the central structure was designated as the main building of the art center, with the two auxiliary buildings serving as reception and office spaces. These buildings were transformed into an abstract representation of mountains, with the main building symbolizing the primary peak. Visitors enter the center via a boardwalk over the artificial sea, with the water element extending into the building’s lobby. Inside, visitors can follow two distinct paths, each intertwining indoor and outdoor spaces, to explore the layered ‘mountain.’

To ensure the complex design stood out in its surroundings, Wutopia Lab opted to cover the buildings with semi-transparent shells, detaching them from their functional facades. This approach created a new visual boundary, separating it from the climatic boundary of the structures, and resulted in abstracted mountain peaks that contribute to the project’s unique aesthetic.

the project reimagines three buildings as mountains, with an artificial sea in front

Given the structural load restrictions, lightweight Ferrari membranes were used in place of traditional perforated aluminum panels. These membranes, with varying levels of transparency, create a flickering visual effect under the bright Hainan sun, giving the project its name, Flickering Peak. The combination of natural and architectural elements forms a complex interplay of spaces, both inside and out, offering visitors a rich, multi-layered experience.

The project’s design extends into the night through carefully planned lighting that transforms the translucent peaks into a dynamic landscape of colored lights. This contrast between day and night underscores the duality of the structure — sanctity by day and material vibrancy by night. Inside the lobby, a dramatic lighting design enhances this effect, creating a moment reminiscent of Rothko’s work, where architecture and art converge.

Wutopia Lab shrouds the buildings with semi-transparent veil, mimicking abstract mountain peaks