Location: Zhengzhou, China.

Architect: TJAD, Zeng Qun Architecture Design Studio.

Zhengzhou is a rapidly developing regional centre with a conflict between its urbanization process and historical memory. This project proposes to use a large-scale, powerful and complete form to fit the planning structure, forming an equivalent volume and dialogue with the two major buildings around. The design traces back to the regional culture in an abstract way, exploring the similarities of Chinese primitive aesthetic forms from the local art of the Shang and Zhou dynasties and the historical buildings in Central Plains. The building forms are clear and crisp, with sharp lines without excessive ornamentation, and the right slopes and cuts around the building correspond to the environmental elements of the important buildings or public spaces around. The formation process of architecture is a process in which the vague prototype Imagery is gradually solidified in the transformation of the site.

The design is divided into two volumes, connected by a roof slab. The facade uses warm grey precast concrete decorative panels and a stripe texture, while the facade window adopts a gradual skin texture with parametric deduction. The interior space is shaped with an overall strategy of ‘inside’ and ‘outside’, reflecting and continuing the architectural appearance truthfully from the perspective of construction. Natural lighting elements provide users with perception and experience changes in space and time.

Photo credit: Shengliang Su.