'Blossom Gate' / Prechteck

'Blossom Gate' / Prechteck
Courtesy of Prechteck

Defining a landmark to the entrance of the largest Chinese myrtle garden in Xiangyiang, Prechteck’s ‘Blossom Gate’ aims to reinvent the gate as an architectural typology underlining the connecting characteristics of a former dividing element. Their design is not just about the link of the inside with the outside, but also about the connection of its visitors – the gate as an area of gathering, instead of a point of passing through. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Formalistic Inspirations lay in the Chinese tradition of caligraphy, the context and its topography and flower-blossoms as a theme for the garden. As a typology, the main function of a gate is a dividing one, separating the inside from the outside. On the other hand, a gate is also the only a connecting element, guiding people to a certain point , where the inside and the outside get unified.

Courtesy of Prechteck

The structure serves as a gate to the flowerpark of Xiangyang, a city famous for its nature, tradition and writers. Our design shows a tribute to those. Inspired by the shape of the a flower, two blossoms define the gate, honoring the beautiful landscape of the area. As the structure arches over, bundle of bamboo on the outside create a majestic volume of light in the ‘in-between – space’. This space not only serves the flower garden as an entrance gate and meeting point for visitors, but also can be used as a sheltered void which serves the community for concerts or lectures. From the outside, the ‘blossom-gate’ is a symbol for unity and harmony and for sure a desired background for wedding pictures in the flower garden.

Courtesy of Prechteck

As a brush fades out at the end of each stroke, the gate also is defined by this beauty of a non-perfect, non-continuous line connecting the building to its heritage and to the tradition of Chinese calligraphy, the city is famous for. The project is expected to be completed in 2013.

Courtesy of Prechteck

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Cite: Alison Furuto. "'Blossom Gate' / Prechteck" 13 Nov 2012. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/287651/blossom-gate-prechteck> ISSN 0719-8884

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