As global urbanization accelerates, waste sorting has become a key issue for sustainable urban development. Since Kunshan launched its waste sorting initiative in November 2019, the government has taken steps in policy, public involvement, and infrastructure to improve the city's waste sorting system. The Kunshan Kitchen Waste Transfer and Treatment Project plays a vital role not only as an efficient waste treatment facility but also in raising environmental awareness and promoting a green city image.
This project is located in Kunshan, Suzhou, covering 22.7 acres with a building area of 2,720 square meters. It is designed to process 600 tons of waste daily, including household kitchen waste, restaurant waste, and organic waste from markets, with four specialized processing lines. The project began trial operations in April 2021 and is a key part of Kunshan's waste sorting system.
However, traditional waste treatment facilities are often seen as symbols of enclosure and pollution. The core issue of this project’s facade design is how to change this perception through architectural design, transforming the facility into a symbol of the city's green development.
Waste treatment facilities are usually focused on function, but this design also aims to promote environmental friendliness. The facade uses three main colors—green, blue, and yellow—to represent ecology, cleanliness, and vitality. With gradient color blocks, vertical elements, and modular arrangements, the building creates a light, rhythmic visual effect within an industrial context. This approach breaks away from the traditional heavy image of waste treatment plants, encouraging a positive connection with the natural environment.
To create a rhythmic facade on the large industrial building, the design uses a modular layout that ensures ventilation and natural light while giving the building a unique visual identity. Key strategies include: varied color blocks with gradients and irregular patterns to symbolize the dynamic process of waste resource recovery, and vertical lines to enhance rhythm and balance the building's scale with its surroundings.
The Kunshan Kitchen Waste Transfer and Treatment Project is a key part of the waste sorting system and addresses social issues through its facade design. It functions as an efficient waste treatment facility and a symbol of green urban development. By combining color strategies, modular facades, and sustainable technologies, the project redefines the traditional image of waste treatment buildings and opens up new possibilities for future environmental infrastructure design.
