Reviving Tradition: Xinhui The West Coast Center

David Chang's Award-Winning Design Fuses Chinese Artistry with Modern Decorative Techniques

The West Coast Center is located in Jiangmen, the origin of the Zhuxi Strategy, an area that is set to become a growth pole for the advanced equipment manufacturing industry. This strategic position gives the project its unique significance, as it is expected to become the first portal area radiating from the Pearl River Delta to the west of Guangdong Province.

Chang's design approach involved a careful selection of diverse materials such as metal, peacock blue jade, and grey mirror, which brighten the space and give it a contemporary flavor. The soft-wear design theme, "the land of fishery and agriculture," is a nod to Xinhui's long history and unique Lingnan customs. These unique cultural characteristics are integrated into the design of various spaces, creating a space that is both ancient and modern, rich and handsome.

The project, which spans a total area of 950 square meters with a height varying from 2.92 m to 13.5 m, was realized with the help of a team of designers under Chang's direction. The design process involved a multi-angle and 3D functional attribute realization of a large scale comprehensive space, arranged and distributed according to the radial form of the center. This layout not only matches the sales process but also takes into account the reception capacity of guests during openings or activities.

Chang's design research involved an inspection of Xinhui's geological texture and regional context. By understanding the background of real estate, integrating the culture and history of overseas Chinese in Xinhui, and researching the use of regional functions, Chang was able to penetrate the design elements of hardcover and softcover, integrating the boundary between natural landscape and artistic treatment.

One of the design challenges was the construction of a 14-meter glass vault in the center of the space's central axis. This element not only made the space look grand but also skillfully introduced natural light into the interior. The glass vault, characterized by the spacious Western Renaissance decoration, adds a friendly and natural local humanistic flavor to Xinhui.

The project's interior decoration style is based on the European style framework, with deep Chinese ink and wash calligraphy. The color scheme highlights the halo effect of black, white, and grey, creating a sense of penetration akin to ink dropping on rice paper. The structure shows the vigorous beauty of Chinese traditional calligraphy art, with smooth and symmetrical lines, broad and vigorous, evoking a calm and elegant aristocrat.

The design was awarded the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019, a testament to Chang's prodigious talent and wisdom in design. The award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.