Leading lights: in one of the world's centres of counterfeit and fake, Kuma and Zhongtai have created this delightful Asian original.China is a place of extremes. Experiencing the world's largest human migration in history, its cities are growing at a phenomenal rate. With this rate of change, quality and restraint are rare priorities, which is why this relatively modest building in Shanghai is noteworthy. Built for Zhongtai Lighting, its ambitions are exemplary when seen within the world's capital of scrap and build. It leads the way by demonstrating how the creative re-use of redundant structures can produce fine architectural solutions. Through its authentic what-you-see-is-what-you-get aesthetic, it also articulates an ambition to promote integrity and clarity of design in a culture and economy that thrives on counterfeit. With a series of showroom-galleries, design originals can be displayed in a manner that elevates their purely utilitarian function, which it is hoped will help the building to become a cultural destination, a venue where dialogue and discussion can thrive. Consistent with the Chinese philosophy Chinese philosophy was philosophy written in the Chinese tradition of thought. Chinese philosophy has a history of several thousand years; its origins are often traced back to the Yi Jing (the Book of Changes of Feng Shui Feng shui Traditional Chinese method of arranging the human and social world in auspicious alignment with the forces of the cosmos, including qi and yin-yang. It was devised during the Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 220). , the siting of the building was fundamental. Roads that run due east/west are (apparently) rare in Shanghai, as are streets lined with Phoenix plane trees: characteristics that are believed to promote prosperity and good fortune. Situated in the low-rise French Concession, the site also benefited from its proximity to a delightful garden. Formerly home to the Shanghai Number 5 Watch Factory, both client and architect wanted to avoid the current trend to scrap and build. To this end the factory was stripped back to its raw concrete frame and extended with a new steel structure that provides an attic storey on the fourth floor and a spacious quadruple-height entrance atrium atrium (ā`trēəm), term for an interior court in Roman domestic architecture and also for a type of entrance court in early Christian churches. The Roman atrium was an unroofed or partially roofed area with rooms opening from it. , bringing the building hard up against the tree-lined pavement. Consistent with Kuma's oeuvre, light and water predominate. Both new areas are partially flooded to provide constantly shifting reflections and a calming acoustic ambience, in the atrium with a shallow reflecting pool
A reflecting pool is a structure often used in memorials. It generally consists of a shallow pool of water, usually quite calm. , and at roof level with an overflowing infinity pool that creates the perfect setting for one of Kuma's trademark island pavilions (AR March 2000). The building is steeped in references that reapply Re`ap`ply´ v. t. & i. 1. To apply again. reapply vi → volver a presentarse, hacer or presentar una nueva solicitud Kuma's distinctive vertically modulated mod·u·late v. mod·u·lat·ed, mod·u·lat·ing, mod·u·lates v.tr. 1. To adjust or adapt to a certain proportion; regulate or temper. 2. aesthetic. To the west, slender fins create a screen that shades cellular offices within, which from the garden help to reduce the building's otherwise bulky form. Internally this aesthetic continues throughout the penthouse suite with the extensive use of timber, Kuma's preferred material. What is new to Kuma, however, is the sort of playful experimentation that makes this building distinctive, with two full-height screen walls that flank the atrium. Reinforcing the calm ambience, a cascading waterfall and planted screen have been incorporated either side of the quadruple-height entrance hall. Sensationally outperforming more traditional corporate paraphernalia PARAPHERNALIA. The name given to all such things as a woman has a right to retain as her own property, after her husband's death; they consist generally of her clothing, jewels, and ornaments suitable to her condition, which she used personally during his life. , such as fish tanks and unsightly un·sight·ly adj. un·sight·li·er, un·sight·li·est Unpleasant or offensive to look at; unattractive. See Synonyms at ugly. un sculptures, these elements are so wholeheartedly whole·heart·ed adj. Marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm: wholehearted approval. whole integrated into the structure that they have an authenticity and permanence Permanence law of the Medes and Persians Darius’s execution ordinance; an immutable law. [O.T.: Daniel 6:8–9] leopard’s spots there always, as evilness with evil men. [O.T.: Jeremiah 13:23; Br. Lit. that somehow renders them as discrete background elements, despite their overt showmanship. To the street, stainless-steel planters Planters is an American snack food company under Kraft Foods manufacturing, best known for its nuts and the Mr. Peanut icon that symbolizes them. Started by Italian immigrants Amedeo Obici and Mario Peruzzi in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1906, it was incorporated in 1908 create a magical optical effect, with an array of reflections that blur the building's hard lines rendering it at times virtually invisible, each containing irrigated beds for ivy. The third more subtle device is the penthouse's louvred ceiling, that when activated reveals a glass roof that fills the penthouse with light and air. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Internally a progression of staircases run north/south, connecting the ground floor exhibition and reception space, with first and second floor offices, open-plan workspaces and gallery-showrooms. Above these the top floor is the most curious of all, providing an odd mix of functions that constitute the entertainment and hospitality zone for the organisation. With two self-contained apartments that boast boutique hotel Boutique hotel is a term originating in North America to describe intimate, usually luxurious or quirky hotel environments. Boutique hotels differentiate themselves from larger chain/branded hotels and motels by providing personalized level accommodation and services / facilities. luxury, staff and visitors also have access to a sauna, gymnasium and library. A wine and cigar room have also been included--for wining and dining--along with a kitchen, servery A room used for the preparation and serving of food other than a kitchen. This is the room where servers complete the final touches of food preparation remote from a kitchen. , bar and function room, all of which have panoramic views across the infinity pool to the skyline beyond. Essential to Zhongtai's mission to create one of the city's leading design venues, this is without doubt an odd mix, part corporate HQ, part executive play den. As a building, however, Kuma has succeeded in resolving many complicated juxtapositions, modifying an existing building within its context to exploit the adjacencies of its two principal aspects. With Kuma's sharp attention to detail and carefully controlled geometries and proportions, when setting new against old, the building is extremely well resolved, neither shouting out, nor skimming Skimming An electronic method of capturing a victim's personal information used by identity thieves. The skimmer is a small device that scans a credit card and stores the information contained in the magnetic strip. over fudged details. Built with precision, but without the formal determinism of A Coruna (p76), Z58 is a building that Zhongtai and Shanghai can be extremely proud of. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion