The interlace
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Haikou International Duty Free Reception Centre
The interlace
Architecture, dating back to the Stone Age, has used the basic structure of wind to provide people with shelter from rain. On the basis of functionality, the pursuit of a more spiritual soul is injected. The building is located in the Haikou Binhai New Area, not only characteristic of a sales centre, but also a modern art gallery. It is the gateway to the west coast city and the spiritual fortress of this area.
In the design, we use deconstructionist techniques to dismantle and reorganize the building wall, release the form and volume, and then realize the infinite possibilities of space by interspersing the blocks. The integration of this style school abstracts and simplifies the architecture, rendering it an artistic element.
We increased the thickness of the outer wall to emphasize it and to form a strong architectural symbol. At the same time, windows and platforms are inserted into the wall to open the covered building to the city, which also introduces urban events into the building and becomes a place for the public to create events.
The addition of circular elements further emphasizes the geometrical sense of the building. The curved wall is displayed at the opening of the outer wall, and completely different materials are used to form a visual focus on the facade. The interior is also interspersed with blocks of different shapes, forming a rich and varied space.
In the choice of facade colour, we considered the city of Haikou’s warm and comfortable year-round climate, with sufficient sunshine, and chose white in order to make the building brighter and more refreshing visually. The large area of the white wall is like a pure canvas, with the light and shadow serving as pen and ink. Painting on the wall is reminiscent of traditional Chinese painting.
The elevation material uses horizontal-grained panels and titanium-zinc panels as embellishments on the protruding walls and curved walls of the building. The white of the cross-grained board and the gray of the titanium-zinc board collide, forming a strong contrast. The texture of the two materials is derived from the skin of dried palm, which makes the building more textured and echoes the surrounding natural environment.
The project is functionally divided into two major areas – a marketing area and an investment promotion area. In order to achieve the relative independence of the two functional areas and the integrity of the building, we arranged the volume in an L shape. The marketing area is arranged along the main road and is more open. The negotiation area, located on the first floor, uses a large area of glass to render the interior bright and transparent to pedestrians. Excellent accessibility allows pedestrians to easily participate in activities inside the building.
Compared with the marketing area, the overall investment zone is relatively closed to ensure the privacy of visitors. The function of the investment promotion part is developed along the city’s secondary arterial road. On the side of the street interface, the real wall is used to isolate noise, and the view opens onto the side facing the inner courtyard. Visitors enter the interior of the building through a cylinder of titanium-zinc plates. A terrace is set on the second floor to enjoy the view of the inner courtyard and the entire area.
Technical sheet
Architecture Firm: aoe
Website: www.aoe-china.com
Firm Location: Beijing, China
Construction Status: Completed
Building area: 2700 Square Meters
Design Period: 2021
Project Location: Haikou, China
Lead Architects: Wen Qun
Photo credits: UK Studio Photography
Design Team: Wen Qun, Ma Jianning, Xiao Tang, Qing Liu,Chen Liu
About aoe
aoe is an award-winning Beijing-based architectural design practice established in September 2016. The name “aoe” (architecture of event) is derives from the expression attributed to American architect Bernard Tschumi that states that ‘there is no architecture without event’. Beyond the statement, the architectural philosophy is the core value of aoe’s practice. aoe is a dynamic design force in the fast-changing world, focusing on the goal of improving the living environment by engaging new technologies, materials, social values, history, art and culture. When designing, aoe studies and refines the vivid relationship between architecture, space, and its users to encourage a positive impact on society with innovative design solutions. The natural logic of being, such as space, material, construction, and technology, is the key-driven force for generating space and form. aoe’s solution-oriented design approach provides professional services to maximize the success of every project.
