Location: Beijing, China.

Architect: AntiStatics Architecture.

The Beijing Fashion-Factory is a creative workspace that repurposes a former industrial site into a collective of diverse workspaces. The design is inspired by the textiles and patterns of the fashion industry, utilizing techniques such as draping, stitching, printing, and weaving. The design also takes into account the impact of pandemics like COVID, with each unit having its own private entry space and HVAC system to prevent cross-contamination. The outdoor courtyard spaces are used for collective gathering, while the interior spaces offer private workspace and reprogrammable public facilities. The public spaces include theater and screening spaces, auditoriums, fashion runways, art galleries, and music venues, making the site adaptable to both large- and small-scale events. The design leverages the interwoven nature of fabric as a design driver, creating a twisting linear stitch that enhances the space as one for exhibition, particularly the linear fashion show. The use of industrial expanded steel mesh grants a feeling of softness to the otherwise hard geometries of the classic architectural formations. The Beijing Fashion-Factory is entirely capable of handling a wide range of public programs and events, making it a cultural destination expressive of the immense creativity and production of the city.

Photo credit: Xiazhi.