CANOPY RINGS

Cloud Stage is an urban balcony and performance space installed on the rooftop of Chongqing Zekebang Xingzehui, shaped from a transformation of a previous competition concept. Unlike the plaza's vibrancy, the rooftop sits relatively high and quiet, open to Chongqing's spectacular skies and offering a privileged panoramic view over the city's dramatic hilly skyline. The design goal was to create a fresh, appealing outdoor space, especially for young people, with the potential to host small live performances and gatherings. Inspired by the cloud imagery embedded in the Chinese name, the team proposed a stage whose main structure resembles a huge cumulus cloud floating above the rooftop, accommodating any F&B program within. Platforms are extended from the main stage in the shape of small clouds, appearing as if they have drifted away to form scattered functional areas: one holds a small kids play area, another a bar, and another a selfie point. At night, neon light strips on the main body reimagine the cloud as a galaxy, the ideal setting for young people's nightlife. Lighting is not a decorative layer but an essential component of the design, and the shape comes from the simple idea of a soft cloud, an urban balcony where visitors forget their daily routine and become spectators of the beautiful city. The project in Chongqing covers roughly 280 square meters.