Crystal Pool is a creative public space intervention designed for the grand opening of a new mixed-use complex located in the New Bund, the emerging international business centre in Pudong. The space aims to encourage social interaction among new visitors, appealing to kids and adults alike.

The project comprises of a staircase that connects the street level with the public rooftop of the commercial building. The landing area on the street level attempts to link both levels through an eye-catching intervention that encourages visitors to use the staircase as a public space as well.

The staircase was sprinkled with ‘water drops’, different typologies of mini-tribunes, carefully designed to provide a range of different seating and lounge positions overlooking the central intersection plaza. The ‘water drops’ then create a ‘water puddle’ on the bottom landing area, a pool of fun for the younger visitors that contains an obstacle track and a virtual pool with fun features as a playscape.

The resulting intervention is rendered as a playscape on the street level, filled with basic geometrical objects such as bubbles and waves to be colonised by kids, besides shaded seating features for adults, plus a funky staircase, turned from just a circulation space into a space to stay, to rest, lay down and contemplate the urban enclave.

Via ArchDaily | Images © Amey Kandalgaonkar