International Islands: A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation

Wei Zhang - gad's Award-Winning Design Merges Tang and Song Traditions with Modernity

The design draws heavily from the architectural traditions of the Tang and Song dynasties, adopting the classic ratio and pattern of the roof and wall from the Tang Dynasty. The slightly inclined wall design, inspired by traditional Shoufen architecture, gives the building a sense of solidity and stability. The use of white stone at the base of the building and a natural-color cornice creates a beautiful contrast, further enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the design.

The International Islands project was designed with the Maritime Silk Road as the main theme. The building form spans the mountains and the sea, creating an open landscape corridor that greens the city. The design team, led by Wei Zhang and Shouqing Wu, has successfully integrated regional styles along the Maritime Silk Road into the park, creating different courtyard themes and integrating different elements into a cohesive whole.

The realization of the design was made possible through the use of modern materials and technologies. The lightness, high intensity, and high flatness of cellular aluminum sheets were used to ensure the flatness of the large aluminum curtain wall. The reflections of the surroundings further strengthen the sense of floating. The cellular stone, with its size of 1.2m wide x 2.2m high, breaks the area limit of natural stone and can also be used on the dropping ceiling, ensuring the integrity of the entry space and rendering an unusual drop-off experience.

The project, which started in 2016 in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China, and finished in 2017, faced several design and technical challenges. The design team had to balance the need to create a design that accorded with the local style, customs, and historical context, while also incorporating modern design principles and technologies. The result is a design that is both rooted in tradition and forward-looking, a testament to the team's creativity and technical prowess.

In conclusion, the International Islands project by Wei Zhang - gad is a remarkable example of how traditional architectural principles can be reinterpreted in a modern context. The design, which has been recognized with the prestigious Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2022, is a testament to the power of design to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also functional and sustainable. It serves as an inspiration for designers around the world to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in architecture and design.