Fineland Heshan Community Center: A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity

Fineland Architecture and Studio Revo's Award-Winning Design Inspired by Chinese Handheld Fans

The design of the community center was inspired by traditional Chinese handheld fans. The abstract interpretation of fan leaves defines the lobby's background, creating a simple yet unified space with a profound visual hierarchy. The hallway, shaped by an abstraction of disassembled fan leaves, allows natural light in and creates vivid spatial changes. The wine cabinets of the party room assimilate elements from the representative Chinese object, further enhancing the unified design effect.

The restaurant section of the center draws its design inspiration from the graceful shape of eaves found in traditional Chinese architecture. Stainless steel materials integrate the ceiling, producing a modern atmosphere with a strong visual impact. Walls are built with green-gray toned bricks, similar to those used in ancient Chinese architecture, and are complemented by transparent glass surfaces that bring natural light into the space, creating a pleasant atmosphere for patrons.

The center's design also incorporates a magnificent revolving door at the entrance, presenting paintings of ancient trees found in traditional Chinese culture on every door page. This element provides practical functionality and complements the overall theme of the restaurant. The materials used in the design include marble, stainless steel, blue brick, cloth, process glass, and wood veneer.

The project site, Heshan, is located at the Pearl River Delta in Southern Guangdong Province. The city is renowned for its terrain that resembles a red-crown crane from Chinese mythology. The design team chose three important historical elements stemmed from goods, nature, and architecture, namely, the Chinese fan, moon, and ancient construction eave. These elements were fused with modern minimalism to cater to the city's young population.

One of the main challenges faced by the design team was the integration of honored tradition and modern aesthetics. They had to design proper walkways, divide spaces into two areas, deploy deconstruction techniques through the use of arcades, and define novel structures that soften the impact of high spaces. Despite these challenges, the team was successful in giving elements of the past a completely new meaning in harmony with contemporary lifestyles.

The Fineland Heshan Community Center is a testament to the successful fusion of traditional Chinese elements with modern design principles. It stands as a symbol of the evolving aesthetics in architecture and design, reflecting the changing lifestyles of the modern world.