Guanlan Yipin: A Blend of Oriental Spirit and Modern Minimalism

Hongfei Yan's Award-Winning Design for a Unique Sales Center

Yan's inspiration for the Guanlan Yipin sales center came from the city itself. Suzhou, with its classical gardens and modern structures like the Suzhou Museum, provided a rich backdrop for the design. Yan sought to create a space that mirrored the city's unique blend of the old and the new, the oriental and the minimalist. The result is a sales center that not only serves a practical function but also provides a spiritual experience reminiscent of a garden tour.

The Guanlan Yipin stands out for its unique interpretation of "Minimalist Oriental". Yan used design vocabulary of deconstructionism to create a space where order, level, form, and temperament interweave in multiple ways. The architectural expression language of the sales center has the shape, color, and meaning of the East, as well as the spiritual characteristics of modern minimalism.

Yan used a variety of materials to adorn the space, including marble, metal, sandstone, and wood. Dai Cyan, a traditional Chinese color often used in Kunqu Opera costumes, appears in the form of marble. The landscape stairs, a key feature of the sales center, are interpreted by wood and art painting. The use of these materials sets a fundamental tone for the space, creating a unique scene that contrasts material and light.

The Guanlan Yipin was designed with a keen eye for detail. For example, Yan made sure that the lighting was controlled by weak current, allowing for adjustments according to site conditions. This attention to detail ensured the best visual effect while reducing engineering repetition. The large French windows eliminate the boundary between indoor and outdoor, bringing the natural landscape indoors and reflecting the harmony between man and nature.

The project started in November 2019 in Suzhou and was completed in June 2020. Yan and his team, which included Bin He, Yiming Pan, Renxiang Lee, Xia Huang, and Hongliang Zhen, faced several challenges during the design process. One of the key challenges was capturing natural light without seeing the lighting. The team overcame this challenge by using large French windows and strategically placing trees and stones in the corridor.

The Guanlan Yipin is not just a sales center; it is a testament to the city's unique blend of ancient and modern, oriental spirit and minimalism. It received the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2021, a testament to its outstanding design and innovation. The Guanlan Yipin is a poetic dwelling, a spiritual home that reflects the harmony between man and nature.