Reviving Industrial Heritage: Handan Zarsion Living Center

RUF Architects Breathe New Life into Forgotten Urban Ruins

The project is located in the former Handan Oxygenerator Factory, a once-thriving industrial site that fell into disrepair due to industry changes. RUF Architects saw potential in this urban ruin and embarked on a mission to revitalize the area, preserving the memory of generations while introducing a fresh, modern aesthetic.

Handan Zarsion is unique in its design approach. The architects formed an urban square by chamfering the corners of the building, creating a space that encourages interaction and openness. This square serves as a display platform in harmony with the city, and a natural convergence point of vitality. The layout, shaped like the Chinese character "一", fits perfectly into the long, narrow urban corner land, stimulating the city's vitality with a new, super-scale interface.

The building's design incorporates 18 metal shuttle-shaped louvers embedded in the second floor, rotating at 10-degree intervals. This design consideration ensures functional efficiency and visual transparency. The black and white moiré pattern formed by the misaligned array adds a dynamic, three-dimensional effect to the facade, creating an illusion of industrial aesthetics and future-forward design.

The project faced several challenges, including preserving the historical integrity of the site while introducing modern design elements. The architects successfully created a dialogue between the old and the new, beautifying the structural intention of the original mushroom-shaped columns and arch trusses. The result is a design that interweaves a sense of history with a futuristic aesthetic.

The Handan Zarsion project started in December 2019 in Handan City, Hebei Province, China, and was completed in March 2020. The project's success is a testament to the power of urban renewal and the transformative potential of design. It was awarded Silver in the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021, a prestigious accolade that recognizes outstanding expertise and innovation in design.