Wuhan UI: An Innovative Fusion of Sound and Space

Yu Studio's Award-Winning Design Inspired by Wuhan's Unique Water Culture

The design concept for Wuhan UI was born from the desire to fill the space with pleasant sound, creating a close yet distinct relationship between the space and the sound. The project draws inspiration from the city of Wuhan, often described as a floating city due to its location on the surface of rivers and lakes. To bring this concept to life, Yu Studio collaborated with musician Ouge to create a unique piece of music for the space.

What sets Wuhan UI apart is its unique combination of stable and unstable elements. The design features an art installation that juxtaposes a stable building with unstable mirror images, through which a suspension bridge passes. This interplay of stability and instability, coupled with the swinging of perforating copper, creates a dreamlike atmosphere for visitors.

Wuhan UI is realized through the use of artistic lacquer, decorative brick, colour film, and artificial stone with wood grains. The design concept revolves around the integration of sound into the context of contemporary art. Sound tracks are interwoven and mixed invisibly in the space, creating a sound field that interacts with the art installations, thereby stimulating the emotions of the entire space.

Visitors to Wuhan UI are treated to an immersive experience. As they ascend the stairs from the corridor, they can "view" the stairs in the box, the bronze mirror on the floor, and the hanging stone, all of which constitute a complete art installation. The reflection in the mirror resembles the surface of a pool of water, inviting visitors to pause and take in their surroundings.

The project, which started in October 2019 and was completed in November 2020, presented a number of creative and technical challenges. One of the key challenges was to express the extreme quietness of the water on the first floor and the sense of mobility of the space on the second floor. The solution was to separate the space into a series of continuous pictures, depicting warm, delicate, and romantic sceneries in traditional Chinese style.

The Wuhan UI project is a testament to the innovative approach of Yu Studio. By integrating sound art into spatial expression, the design creates a unique and immersive experience for visitors. This innovative approach has not only earned the project critical acclaim but also a prestigious design award, underscoring the studio's commitment to pushing the boundaries of design.