Imperial Mansion: A New Urban Landmark

Qiyue Architects' Award-Winning Community Center Design

The Imperial Mansion is strategically located in the city center of Yuhuan, close to the Yuhuan Grand Theater and the Yuhuan Passenger Transport Center. This location is characterized by a complete set of living facilities, healthy traffic flow, a refreshing natural environment, and a developed transportation system. The richness of commerce and life are all gathered here, making it an integral part of a broader urban renewal plan.

The design of the community center is heavily influenced by the surrounding beautiful landscape. The clean geometric outlines paired with the folded edges of the roof allow the heavy structure to appear light and elegant in a natural environment. The architect hopes to make up for the lack of public urban space in the city by introducing an open plan in the project. Through a series of interactive spaces, such as street-corner city squares, large areas of stairs and resting platforms, various modes of interactions with the environment are generated.

The façade of the community center consists of large areas of glass walls, presenting a simple and natural sense of sophistication. At the same time, the material echoes the city landscape and prevents the community center from appearing oppressive and alienating. The color palette is dominated by various textures of gray. The combination of silvery aluminum plates and high-transmittance glass creates a surface that reflects both reality and fantasy.

The entrance-steps separate the building from the rest of the plan, allowing the lower area to become an urban public space, providing an image of community. At the same time, the ascending steps serves as a guide, leading the people flow to the second floor. This flow further serves as a testimony to the future commercial possibilities of the area. The neat and clean steps echo the overall architectural space, creating a spectacle for all visitors to remember.

The project started in Nov. 2019 and finished in July 2020 in Tai Zhou, China. The project is heavily inspired by the spirit of Carlo Scarpa, especially in the formation of the staircase, and serves as an attempt to create a landmark. Working under various limitations, the design team effectively responded to the environment and the urban culture surrounding the project, further taking into consideration the functionality of the buildings and the natural flow of people.

The Imperial Mansion was awarded Golden in A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.