Spruce Art Center / LYCS Architecture
Designed by LYCS Architecture, the Spruce Art Center recently commenced construction in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Flush with mature spruce trees and a pre-existing one story abandoned structure, the design is a mixture of two fundamental challenges in architecture: to evoke new spatial meaning while reconciling an existing structure, and to produce a formal language that can be dynamic and strong, yet carefully caress spruce trees. More images and architects’ description after the break.
‘Water Memory’ – Rethinking Shanghai Competition Proposal / Ayrat Khusnutdinov, Zhang Liheng, Alexey Bychkov
‘Water Memory’, a proposal by Ayrat Khusnutdinov, Zhang Liheng, and Alexey Bychkov for the Rethinking Shanghai competition, focused on a strategic vision to manifest the undeletable importance of Suzhou creek waterfront to Shanghai. Using existing bridges as the main axis of their development and arranging high-rise commercial areas along them, they created a cohesive system that would connect now fragmented past and recent developments where water wouldn’t divide to play a connective role. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Guangzhou Daily Group Culture Center / IAPA
IAPA shared with us their proposal for the Guangzhou Daily Group of Culture Center, a large multi-purpose building complex, which recently won the excellence award in the International Architecture Design Competition. The center, which includes office, exhibition, commercial, hotel, culture, and service space, creates a building complex with a vivid image, unique content and regional cultural features. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Villa A / QSJW Architects
Architects: QSJW Architects - Yki FO, Yogurt Qian
Location: Shanghai, China
Site Area: 485 sqm
Building Area: 206 sqm
Floor Area: 500 sqm
Completion: 2012
Photographs: Courtesy of QSJW Architects
Video: CCTV Headquarters / OMA
Enjoy this interesting footage captured by Tomas Koolhaas – son of Rem Koolhaas – in February 2012 of the recently completed China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters in Beijing. The monumental structure took eight years to complete and is OMA‘s first major building in China, as well as their largest project to date. The building is planned for occupancy later this year to broadcast the London 2012 Olympics. Check out our previous coverage for more building information.
Continue after the break to view a short clip inside the CCTV building during construction!
Urban Creek / ATOL Architects
Located in the Tongzhou district of Beijing, Urban Creek is an attempt at having architecture merge within various spheres of public space. Designed by ATOL Architects, the project is focuses around the idea that architecture should be conceived as a cultural connective tissue that creates opportunities to link spaces and neighborhoods together. In redefining the very notion of mixed-use from a free standing commercial box/podium/tower typology, this design aims at creating an ever evolving city center to reconnect with its secret past. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Bicycle Club / NL Architects
Amsterdam-based NL Architects have been asked to design a Bicycle Club for a large resort in Hainan, China. They have proposed a glass enclosed pavilion capped with a rooftop cycling arena that embodies curves reminiscent of the traditional and functional pagoda. Visitors can rent a bike and join the fun in the open-air velodrome or simply visit the club’s cafe and be entertained while sitting on the large staircases found in the middle of the oval structure.
Continue after the break for more images.
Youth Center of Qingpu / Atelier Deshaus
Architects: Atelier Deshaus - Liu Yichun, Chen Yifeng
Location: Huake Rd, Qingpu, Shanghai, China
Design Team: Liu Yichun, Chen Yifeng, Gao Lin, Liu Qian, Wang Longhai
Completion: 2012
Building Area: 14,360 sqm
Site Area: 10,906 sqm
Photographs: Yao Li
Infinity Loop Bridge / 10 Design + Buro Happold
Creating a gateway entry to south China’s new planned commercial hub, the winning competition proposal by 10 Design + Buro Happold for their Infinity Loop Bridge marks the connection of the Shizimen Canal to the Pearl River Delta. The 10 and Buro Happold team set out to create a simple and elegant structural solution for a bridge that would be a visual focal point both within the Shizimen District itself and along the Pearl River Delta coastline. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Chongqing Mountain & City Sales Office / One Plus Partnership
Architects: One Plus Partnership Limited
Location: Chongqing, China
Designers Involved: Ajax Law Ling Kit, Virginia Lung
Area: 1,600 sqm
Photographers: Ajax Law Ling Kit, Virginia Lung
Masterplan for National Creative Cluster / Sasaki Associates
The masterplan for the National Creative Cluster by Sasaki Associates integrates the urban form with the surrounding landscape by creating a series of green wedges, interspersed within the urban clusters and forming a series of community parks. Located near Songzhuang, a quiet village on the outskirts of Beijing, the success of the district is tied to its openness, where people can interact in both structured and spontaneous ways to exchange ideas and have constructive dialogue. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Masterplan for the Honghe Project / AECOM
Commissioned by the Golden Harbor Group, the design for the masterplan for the Honghe project by AECOM is aimed to help Longgang, an emerging area of Shenzhen, to function positively on the city’s renovation and upgrading. Located in a new rising area, the project covers the south area of the main venue for last year’s University Games. Their design will not only become the complex of services in east Shenzhen, but will lead the development of sports and mice industries, which will also be important for Shenzhen to become the base radiation to the development of east Guangdong Province. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Global Research & Development Center / Broadway Malyan
Broadway Malyan recently secured a brief to provide a full range of design services for the delivery of a global headquarter, research and development, hospitality and visitor centrer in China. They will provide masterplanning, architectural and landscape design services for the project, from concept to detailed design and onsite delivery, with the center set to become a global center for hybrid rice research, a showcase for sustainable development and an international leisure destination in the Qixianling area of Hainan, China’s southernmost province. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Leatop Plaza / Murphy/Jahn
Architects: Murphy/Jahn
Location: Guangzhou, China
Completion: 2012
Height: 270M
Area: 161,000 sqm
Photographs: Courtesy of Murphy/Jahn
Harvest Pavilion / Vector Architects
Architect: Vector Architects
Location: Kunshan, China
Client: Kunshan City Investment Company
Design-Partner-In-Charge: Gong Dong, Chien-ho Hsu
Project Architect: Feng Xu
Project Advisor: Nan Wang
Building Area: 150 sqm
Completion: 2012
Photographs: Shu He Photo
Bio-Lake Reception Center / Zephyr Architects
Architect: Zephyr Architects
Location: Wuhan, Hubei, China
Client: Bio-Lake Commission
Gross Floor Area: 3,540 sqm
Completion: 2010
Design Team: Fu Dong, Zhao Zhonggui, Yang Ching-Chi, Ding Junmei, Yu Tong
Associate Architect: Wuhan Oule
Photographs: Yao Li
S.Deer Corporate Headquarters / Prechteck
The main idea behind the design for the S.Deer Corporate Headquarters building was to create a world of fashion underlining the lifestyle the retail company stands for. As fashion is not just about clothing, the new S.Deer headquaters should not just be about administration. Inspired by S.Deer’s appearance design, Prechteck‘s proposal implemented rotated cubes as a formal element in their design. More images and architects’ description after the break.
CTF Tianjin Tower Breaks Ground / SOM
Ground will be broken today, Tuesday, May 15, 2012, for Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)’s newest supertall building. The 96-story-tall CTF Tianjin Tower uses undulating curves to subtly express its three programmatic elements while presenting a bold monolithic expression on the TEDA district skyline outside Tianjin, China. The 1,740-feet (530-meter) tall tower houses offices, 300 service apartments and a 350-room, 5-star hotel beneath its boldly arched top. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Twin Trees Pavilion / Atelier Archmixing
Architects: Atelier Archmixing
Location: Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
Gross Floor Area: 56 sqm
Completion: 2012
Client: Zhang Hong
Design Team: Zhuang Shen, Tian Danni
Main Contractor: Wang Zikui
Photographs: Tang Yu
