The project is located at the site of the original elementary school in Hongzhuang Village, Shiyan Town, Dongtai City. The construction area is about 4300m2, including the villagers’ festival hall, Master Wu Weishan’s art archive, the village banquet restaurant, the art homestay, and the pastoral book bar.
Township construction is the current "popular" architectural topic. After the completion of Hongzhuang Art Center, it not only faces tourists from Dongtai City, but also takes into account the daily needs of villagers, and has won unanimous praise from the government, the people, and tourists.
For this brand new original building, we insisted on the following points in the early stage of creation, and implemented them throughout:
1. The goal is to achieve its own business survival after the project is completed, without relying on government subsidies.
2. The completion is not the end, but the beginning of driving the surrounding villagers to spontaneously form tourism supporting services, control the construction volume, and form a "fire".
3. The architecture is integrated into the village, and it is by no means high-profile and abrupt.
4. Interspersed with the "walls" and "spaces" of traditional Chinese architecture to form a rich enclosure and semi-enclosed layout.
5. "Fields and lanes" is the origin of the rural aesthetics. An abstract Chinese traditional lane space is formed inside the building, allowing light to participate in the design. When you are in it, you can feel the artistic conception of the lane space, and finally guide visitors to the north side. Pastoral countryside, forming a "village in a village".
The design was inspired by the splendid scenery of the ocean, as it was boundless for the fish to swim and leap freely. The Seafood World also wanted to offer parallel experience. The exterior of the architecture was shown as an abstract image of leaping fish. The buildings were made of steel, while the facade was forged to imitate the surface of an oyster shell as HENGQINg is famous for oyster. In addition, the main building was constructed in the form of two mega fish swimming together. The smaller buildings scattered around were the metaphor of shoal of fish.
The design followed the principle of sustainability as it maximum the use of native water and plant area. It also take convenience and effectiveness into consideration as the Seafood World wanted to offer the best dining experience. For example, there were plenty of bridges and trails that connected different functional spaces which made the motion smoother.
This is a nursery
on the 2nd floor of a building in Atsugi, Kanagawa. It’s an architectural
design office ‘HIBINOSEKKEI’ which specializes in designing kindergarten and
nursery that designs and manages this nursery.
As the following 8
points, many elements of forests in Atsugi are taken into interior designs.
Then here can be the place where children can concentrate on playing while
creating plays by themselves and taking exercise.
There are many steps in this nursery. Even in a
limited space, with steps children will take exercise.
In the steps, various kinds of plants are placed so
that children can feel green inside. Also they can notice small changes of
plants in each season like sprout and blooming.
The atelier is surrounded by low walls so that
children can concentrate on drawing while blocking adults’ eyes. The inside
wall is a blackboard to display children’s works, draw with chalk, play with
magnet and so on.
Next to the atelier, there is a bookshelf. In the
bookshelf, there are an aquarium and some insect cages. Next to them, there are
picture books and encyclopedia about creatures, so they can watch the creatures
while looking up. Their interests can be connect to learning.
Next to the explorer library, there is a narrow path
and it has a shelf of toys for play house. This space faces to the east and
children can enjoy their imagination world while feeling the warm sunlight.
Next to this space, there is a long planter so that they can touch soil and raise up vegetables and
plants.
When climbing up to the highest step, there is a
counter where people can see the city view. Children can take picture books
from the book shelf behind the counter and read here, have lunch here, and
watch trains and people outside.
The toilet space is surrounded by mirror walls. Though
the toilet is in the classroom, people don’t feel any oppressive feeling, but
can feel as if the classroom with many plants is continuous. This mirror walls
can be the place space for children to draw, enjoy the wonder of the mirror or
create creative plays.
The height of the kitchen counter is suited to
children’s sizes so that they can decide how much they eat and prepare their
lunch by themselves. This lower counter is convenient for cooking. Also over
this counter they can communicate with chefs more easily. It stimulates
children’s interests in food.
From these 8
points, as the model case of a nursery in building, this nursery is the place
to spread children’s plays and learning and grow up their rich mindset and
health.