What is the project?
The project, entitled Timeless China, is a cultural experience park which is inspired by the timeless values of the Chinese cultural heritage.
Where is it?
Timeless China is located 35km (22 miles) from the centre of Beijing, on the way to the most-visited section of the Great Wall at Badaling. The theme park is part of Beijing Outlets World, a large complex that also includes a shopping mall, a resort and a conference centre.
What’s your role on the project?
IDEATTACK has designed all stages of the project, from the overall concept to the smallest details.
When does it open and how much is it costing?
It opens in the first half of 2016 and the budget is $150m to $200m (£97m to £129m, €133m to €177m).
What is the aim of the attraction?
Most of Timeless China’s attractions are inspired by important historical events and highlights of Chinese history, interwoven with local legends and myths. Some of the attractions are inspired by the future. The park is envisioned as a “time machine” that enables visitors to experience the fourth dimension with the help of high technology. The idea was to connect the attractions with the limitless possibility of travel within China, without temporal or spatial limitations. Some of the attractions are dedicated to Beijing as the capital city. Each attraction is a “technological fantasy”, a simulation of future technology.
Who is the target audience?
Both local people and domestic and international tourists.
How big is the attraction?
It’s a 76,000sqm (818,000sq ft) site, and approximately half of the site will be built on (32,500sqm, 350,000sq ft). Between 1.5 million and 1.8 million people are forecast to visit every year.
Can you describe your design?
The architectural style of the park follows the idea of the “limitless” nature of the attractions and symbolises a passage between past, present and future. The architectural forms, colours, textures and shapes of the buildings are a combination of stylised old and new forms, forming a new and distinct, eternal architectural form.
Timeless China has two entrances: one in the north and one in the south, following the symbolism of feng shui principles. The theme park will be divided into two zones, one with indoor attractions with partially covered walkways and another completely outdoor area with outdoor attractions.
The layout of the theme park is designed to transform the relatively small area of 76,000sqm into a very diverse and, from the point of view of the visitors, much larger area. The configuration of pathways makes it look much bigger than it actually is, and there is additionally a second-level walking area in the central part of the park, connected by three bridges. Every part of the project will have a green, individually designed landscape to fit the overall space-time vortex theme.
As part of the wider concept, the environment is very important and in itself plays the role of an attraction. Timeless China has a wide range of unique retail and food offerings. One of the areas of the park is specially dedicated to the concept of organic food and a healthy lifestyle and this concept is present throughout the park.
What was your inspiration?
The inspiration was Chinese cultural heritage. The inspiration for the concept design is a vortex of time, a trans-dimensional spiral that connects different points in space and time.
What do you want to achieve?
Our goal is to develop a world-class theme park in China and to create a unique IP for the park without using existing established brands.
What themes and motifs are you using?
Important historical events from Chinese history, Chinese myths and legends, modern technology and the simulation of future technology.
What materials are being used? Who are the suppliers?
Most materials are sourced and supplied in China, with a couple of foreign suppliers. Wherever possible we use natural materials such as wood, brick and stone, but also technological materials such as bioplastic façade, composite panels with natural wood, polyurethane and polystyrene foam facade elements, polyolefin plastics, non-transparent Plexiglas and artificial and natural grass for covering the roofs.
Is this typical of IDEATTACK’s approach to design and design philosophy?
For us, every project is different. We don’t have a typical approach.
IDEATTACK specialises in “one-of-a-kind” attractions. How is this one-of-a-kind?
Here, for the first time, we have a fusion of two of the latest concepts: a commercial development and lifestyle centre, and a story-based attraction inspired by local heritage.
The theme park is designed to introduce a human-scale environment into a huge city, and to create something unique by building an original IP for the park.
The interpretation of historical events and legends is also original. We didn’t create literal replicas of historical events, myths and themeing, but modern interpretations to appeal to a modern audience.
Is this a modern/cutting-edge attraction?
Timeless China is modern in terms of technology and ride systems used in the attraction and in its abstract interpretation of historical heritage.
