Wei Zhang's Award-Winning Kyanyuan: A Modern Oasis in the Heart of Hangzhou

Reimagining Urban Spaces: A Tranquil Clubhouse with Traditional Chinese Charm

Overlooking the West Lake, the Baochu Pagoda, and the entire Wulin Road, Kyanyuan is a hidden gem amidst the city's hustle and bustle. The design, covering a total area of 1,600 square meters, incorporates elements of natural ecological forms throughout the space, redefining contemporary leisure space. The result is a subtle, tranquil environment that embodies the saying, "A real hermit lives in the bustling place".

The design draws inspiration from the beautiful and isolated scenery depicted in Du Fu's poem. The overall design is simple and bright, with a quiet and low-profile style, reflecting the feeling that the owner wanted to create. The club is decorated with solid wood, tiles, cobblestones, self-leveling cement, and large areas of white texture to create an ethereal temperament, reminiscent of an elegant Chinese painting.

Wei Zhang's design combines traditional and modern, coarse and exquisite elements, with rich details stimulating people’s imagination and perception. The appropriate embellishments epitomize a sense of Zen and are full of oriental charm. The space layout is strict and orderly, with dining area, tearoom, guest room area, office area, etc. Each area is independent of each other while also giving a sense of coherence. The indoor and outdoor courtyards are also interspersed and complement each other, adding to the scenic beauty.

The project began designing in March 2018 and was completed by January 2020. The design process was not without its challenges. The project explored the figurative expression of time in space and used the technique of "borrowing scenery" to blur the boundary between interior and exterior. Technically speaking, building renovation is quite demanding for bearing capacity. In the early stage, the whole floor slab was reinforced with steel plates in order not to affect the use of other floors. To create a garden clubhouse, the shallow topsoil planting was also experimented, allowing the greening coverage to be completed.

The Silver A' Design Award is rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder. Wei Zhang's Kyanyuan is a testament to this, offering a unique blend of traditional Chinese aesthetics and modern tranquility in the heart of Hangzhou.