# Research Progress on Curved Plates in China: Applications in Architecture
## 2 Image Expression of Curved Plates
### As Envelope Enclosures  
The position distribution of a surface in space separates the space. In modern architecture, curved surfaces have become the bridge of communication between architecture and the environment or people. When a curved surface is used as the envelope enclosure, it is directly exposed to the outside, forming the appearance of the building and directly expressing the architectural concept. When a curved surface is used as an internal partition, it not only plays the role of traditional functional partitioning but also strengthens the bilateral interaction between the building and the environment or people. The following correspond to the four different sources of design concepts, the characteristics of which are better illustrated by contrasting the case of envelope enclosure (Figure 1, line 2) with the case of internal separation (Figure 1, line 3).  
In terms of reflecting local culture, the Xiangshan Campus of China Academy of Art (Figure 1e) used curved plates to protect the corrugated roof [45], which clearly and directly expressed the winding mountain roads in traditional landscape paintings of areas south of the Yangtze River, and recycled local old bricks and tiles were used on the surface, which was an obvious symbol of local culture. In the stepped podium building of the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base C Tower (Figure 1i), curved surfaces create internal separation and then improve underground lighting, assist in filtering pollutants in the environment, strengthen the benign interactions between curved surfaces and the environment, and generate a unique local terraced landscape overall based on curved surfaces.  
In terms of imitating natural imagery, the facade of the Qinhuangdao Anaya \"Cloud Centre\" (Figure 1f) building adopts ultra-white glass to construct curved surfaces, directly wrapping the building in the shape of clouds and creating the image of \"a cloud floating in the forest\", which directly reflects the floating sense of the building. The Taichung Metropolitan Opera House (Figure 1j) creates a horizontal and vertical tubular space resembling a cave using 58 internal dividing curved plates (walls). With changes in lighting and natural light, visitors can feel as though they are in a cave and can hear different sounds in different locations [51, 56, 57], enhancing the interaction between people and the building.  
In terms of imitating humanity imagery, the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum (Figure 1g) adopts stainless-steel curved-plate enclosures of various colors to directly create an image of a \"spaceship\" sailing into the future, which is relevant to the contemporary interest in unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and contains future and high-tech humanity images. The b&B (Figure 1k) uses a curved surface of bricks and stones to integrate and divide the whole area and uses the purest embodiment technique to echo and distinguish the interactions between architectural space, landscape space, and nature in different proportions [52]. Because the b&B commemorated the former brick kiln factory and was rebuilt on this basis, it represents the Chinese people's struggle in the 1970s and the corresponding human spirit of life.  
In terms of construction purposes, Harbin Polar Park (Figure 1h) directly creates a vivid image of the lovely white whale swimming by a white curved envelope, which naturally reminds people of polar scenery and strengthens the theme of the polar museum. In Beijing, the Playscape-Children's Growth Centre (Figure 11) aims to help children grow. A topographically designed curved hill system connects the main entrances and exits of each building, while two semi-outdoor circular heaters are arranged at the base of the hill. The whole site is covered by an undulating mountain formed by surfaces, through which children can interact with the building in a benign way to feel the changes in speed and mountain undulation, which helps children cognize their senses and integration.