Engineering Renewal: Academic Exchange Center

Revitalizing Guigang Hospital Bungalow with Modern Design

Guigang hospital bungalow renovation project, known as a place of collective memory for the older generation of employees, is an inherent feature of the city. It represents a cultural accumulation honed by history, embodying a strong humanistic spirit and showcasing the cultural heritage of the nation.

In the renovation design of the single bungalow, the focus is on incorporating modern exhibition building features and adopting new methods, technologies, and techniques. The goal is to establish an orderly visual image that harmoniously unifies the overall beautiful environment and use function of the Guigang hospital area.

The design of the Academic Exchange Center takes into account the safety of the entire structure while analyzing the new structure system. The transformation includes keeping the three compartment mode, pressing the ring beam cover plate, setting independent steel columns, adding a two-story space, incorporating a cable system, and resurfacing the roof tiles. The interior space design primarily utilizes glass and steel, complemented by imitation wood materials. This combination creates a high loft experience in the painting and calligraphy exhibition hall and a sunny atrium activity room with natural lighting in the north, providing an organic and close-to-nature atmosphere.

After the renovation, the Guigang hospital area will have a total usable area of 962 square meters, with 587 square meters dedicated to the exhibition space for the history of the hospital. This expansion will significantly enhance the area's cultural offerings.

The improvement of urban spatial quality is achieved through systematic adaptation rather than complete reconstruction. The design team believes that any new organism grows out of the old one, and growth is a continuous process. By making micro-transformations, the designers explore the multiple activation and utilization of traditional architecture, creating a harmonious blend of old and new.

The Academic Exchange Center project was launched in Guigang in 2015 and completed in 2019. Throughout the design process, the team conducted extensive research on the activation of traditional buildings and public spaces in the context of urban renewal. They analyzed and summarized strategies based on the protection and current situation of representative historical and cultural buildings in the Lingnan area.

The design of the Academic Exchange Center faced the challenge of preserving the memory of the collective place for doctors. The team analyzed the human body scale, psychological feeling, and daily behavior patterns of the hospital to create a design that repairs the old while incorporating direct lighting, comfort, functionality, and convenience. The result is a dignified, friendly, and concise new image for the Academic Exchange Center that harmonizes with the historical environment.

The Engineering Renewal project for the Academic Exchange Center has received the prestigious Iron A' Design Award in 2020. This award recognizes the well-designed, practical, and innovative nature of the project, meeting professional and industrial requirements. The design integrates industry best practices and competent technical characteristics, contributing to a better world.