Reviving Traditional Craftsmanship: Ann Yu's TIC Art Center

A Modern Take on Traditional Chinese Masonry in a Public Urban Landmark

The inspiration for the TIC Art Center came from the traditional use of clay bricks in Chinese folk architecture. The color of these bricks changes from dark to light as one travels from north to south in China. However, with the development of urban construction criteria, traditional bricks and masonry techniques no longer meet the requirements of large-scale public buildings. To hold back the vanishing of traditional craftsmanship, Ann Yu looked deeper into it and redesigned an adaptable method.

The TIC Art Center is unique for its innovative structure and the integration of traditional and modern design elements. The red bricks used throughout the architecture and landscape were created by 25 sets of molds, resulting in a continuous ambiance in the project. The unified material selection was based on the local clay brick production tradition, and achieved a lower overall construction cost, as well as efficiency.

The building's design also features a unique interaction with its surroundings. The viewing platform stretching to the middle of the pool provides a panorama of the main facade of the building. The mesh-like double-layer curtain wall system is both the visual highlight and the technical focus of the project. A unique grid masonry effect is achieved by combining traditional ‘ceramic bricks’ with modern curtain wall structural design.

Moreover, the project faced several design challenges, including minimizing energy consumption and creating a wide-spanning arch on the facade wall. The overall passive design of the building minimizes energy consumption through the double-layer curtain wall system, reducing the heat conduction of the building by about 30% and estimated cooling energy consumption by 30%, effectively improving its insulation performance. The arch on the facade wall, with a maximum span of 29 meters, was achieved through a combination of cantilever beams, upturned overhanging folding slabs, and brick walls.

The TIC Art Center is not just a building; it's a testament to the revival of traditional craftsmanship and a beacon of innovation in architecture. It's a project that has not only won the prestigious Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2023 but also contributed to the brand value of the client and the land value in the area. It's a project that has become a destination for numerous visitors, and a symbol of the successful practice of environmentally-friendly architecture.