Shanghai PTArchitects' Transformative Design: Yuexiu Hanyang Starry WinkingFrom Showroom to Kindergarten: A Unique Architectural Journey
Shanghai PTArchitects has created a unique, transformative design for the Yuexiu Hanyang Starry Winking project. This design, inspired by the natural landscape and cultural elements of Wuhan, has the unique ability to shift from a sales center to a kindergarten.
The project's location by the Yangtze River, near the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge, played a significant role in its design concept. The architects aimed to create a progressive spatial layout that would allow visitors to experience ever-changing landscapes as they moved through the space. Water, a significant element in Wuhan's culture, is a major element in the project. Cascading from the building to the landscape space, it ultimately merges into the landscape.
What sets this design apart is its transformative nature. Initially serving as a sales center, the building will be converted into a kindergarten once the selling period is over. The architects faced the challenge of designing a facade that could satisfy the needs of both architectural types. The solution was a modular surface with rhythmic changes, creating a playful architectural surface suitable for a kindergarten, yet functional for a sales center.
The building was constructed using prefabricated GRC (glass-fiber reinforced cement), chosen for its ease of cleaning and ability to maintain a good appearance. The GRC pieces were transported as a whole and pieced together on site, reducing the cracks on the facade due to a large amount of assemblage and giving the building a more complete look.
The design team, led by Chief Architects Xue Jia, Xu Lei, and Wang Xun, used modern design language and spatial narrative to slowly unfold the urban landscape and historic memory before the changing spaces of the building. The natural landscape and cultural implications of the city come together to evoke people's desire for a poetic life.
The project, located in the Hanyang District of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, was completed between December 2017 and July 2019. The design's excellence was recognized with a Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021, a testament to the team's creativity and innovation.
Project Details and Credits
Project Designers: Shanghai PTArchitects
Image Credits: Schran Images
Project Team Members: Chief Architect: Xue Jia, Xu Lei, Wang Xun
Team: Wu Jihong, Lu Bin, Qiu Chenxi, Wang Dinghui, Wang Bo, Zhou Hongyu, Lin Ning, Zhang Ge, Li Chong, Shi Youbin, Chen Yangmo
Project Name: Yuexiu Hanyang Starry Winking
Project Client: Shanghai PTArchitects