ERC Autumn Village: A Fusion of Art, Architecture, and Innovation

Wey Duan Luo's Award-Winning Design Merges Bookstore, Cafe, and Reception Centre

Wey Duan Luo's inspiration for this design came from the current phenomenon of the vanishing physical bookstore in the digital era. The design concept of the ERC Autumn Village aims to preserve the essence of physical bookstores by incorporating them into the reception center. This innovative approach allows for exhibitions, lectures, and forums to be organized simultaneously, attracting the public and transforming the concept of development project marketing.

What sets this design apart from others is its unique construction and the integration of various industries into one space. The external brick wall, created using H beam and metal parts, gives the facade a modern visual pattern. The building is a steel structure with wooden slabs floors, and the custom-made furniture includes lightings, seats, and cabinets built of recycled wood pallets. The height of the book displays complies with consumer usability, and the sitting area around the waxberry tree provides a relaxing environment for visitors.

The ERC Autumn Village spans an area of 926 square meters, featuring a skylight courtyard at its center. The space is surrounded by interlacing platforms with different floor heights, forming an open mixed-use space. The arrangement of the metal frames on the glass wall is of note-like sequence, adding an artistic touch to the design. The first floor houses a courtyard, show house unit, cafe, kitchen and hot food area, bookstore, stair-seating, VR room, administration area, dining area, WC, and storage room. The second floor is dedicated to community activities area, exhibitions, seating area, forum space, and terrace.

The design's interaction is another unique feature. The circulation is diverged into two main flows, with the business consultation area located behind the courtyard. The extra-wide staircase allows people to slow down their pace or sit down to read. The theme exhibition area on the second floor promotes works of local artists. The forum area, designed as stair-seating, can hold different events. The flexible changes of the layouts suit different functions, making the space adaptable to various needs.

The project, which started in October 2018 and was completed in May 2019, faced the challenge of merging a cafe, bookstore, and reception centre into one space. The design team overcame this challenge by using the bookstore as the main theme and adding the cafe as another commercial attraction. This innovative approach realized the spatial design of a grand reception centre for promoting the development project without any sense of conflict.

The ERC Autumn Village was awarded the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2020, a testament to its innovative design and unique features. This design is a perfect example of how art, architecture, and innovation can come together to create a unique and engaging space.