Yang Ying Design Studio of China Construction Fifth Engineering Division Corp.,ltd: Winner of World Design Awards 2025. State Grid 220 kV substation is located in the Kaifusi Road City Park in the main urban area of Changsha City, adjacent to residential, commercial and school and areas, with a dense traffic network and public facilities around.

In view of the NIMBY effect caused by traditional substations, the design is committed to the concept of Symbiosis, Sharing, and Integration and uses an open and friendly method to eliminate the gap between power grid facilities and citizens, so that the substation can be integrated into citizens’ lives and become a beautiful node in the urban landscape.

Through the reconstruction of the traditional functions of the substation and new organization of the streamlines, the substation is not only a power supplier for the city, but also an experiential science popularization center for citizens.

The substation consists of three floors. The street side of the first floor is retracted to form an arcade, which serves as a public space connecting the commercial area to the north and the park to the south. On the second floor, there are interactive science popularization spaces such as the ecological environment and the power grid construction exhibition hall. Gardens, cafe, book bars and other urban supporting facilities are placed on the third floor. Vertical ladders help to connect these functions into an interesting, lively and humane shared communication place.

The entire building adopts prefabricated steel structure components, and the public spaces realize natural lighting and ventilation. The internal and external spaces blend together, the courtyard, outdoor terrace and indoors are integrated into one. The design not only establishes a vertical ecological system, but also creates a multi-level green landscape.

This project breaks the inherent negative impression of power infrastructure in urban space, closely integrates public facilities with the urban structure, and makes it a social place in the city again. The architect regards the substation as a cultural anchor, with popular science education as the core, so that citizens can feel the charm of the substation’s standardized, reliable, technologically innovative, safe and environmentally friendly modern electric municipal facilities while taking daily leisure walks and entertainment.

Project Details:-
Firm
Yang Ying Design Studio of China Construction Fifth Engineering Division Corp.,ltd

Architect
Yang Ying

Project Name
State Grid 220KV Substation in Changsha – Urban Electric Power Science Museum

Project Category
Mixed-Use (Concept)

Team
Yang Ying

Project Location
Changsha, Hunan Province, China

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
©Yang Ying Design Studio

Founded in 1999, Yang Yang Design Studio is based around the idea of “Inspiration and Precision to Deliver Innovative Design “ . Guided by the Chief Architect Yang Ying, a national engineering and design master, the studio is dedicated to the pursuit of original design and innovative research . Keeping the idea of “Situated Architectural Space “ at the core of their design philosophy, the practice has a diverse portfolio of completed works, from urban planning and regeneration to civic and residential. In recognition of the studios contribution to the architecture industry, Yang Ying and his team have received over 100 national and provincial awards.