In an adaptive re-use project, Serie Architects, Grimshaw of London and Pysall Ruge Arkitekten of Berlin were asked to renovate four factories in Hangzhou that would form a new urban core for the city center. For Serie’s factory, the firm decided to preserve the unique16 ft tall main hall of the factory and to “accentuate the industrial drama of this massive void by restoring the concrete truss roof structure and by bringing additional light down through a newly glazed lantern.” The design truly feeds upon the existing conditions, as the newer programs are situated on a large plinth, respecting the historic presence of the factory.
More about the project after the break.
With the main space of the hall preserved, the additional programs are organized around the factory. ”In one sense it frames the factory, in another sense is serves as a pedestal above which we come face to face with the factory,” explained the architects.
The plinth serves to punctuate the factory as the anchor for the masterplan, with surrounding buildings many times its density. The plinth’s surface is an undulating landscape with scattered green patios and water bodies to add more natural side to the project.
As seen on designboom.
project info: use: adaptive re-use of factory to commercial and offices location: hangzhou, china total area: 8,040 sqm design team: chris lee, kapil gupta, bolam lee, martin jameson, sun qin, yifan liu, kevin hung, charlotte sue and amit arya date: may 2010 – ongoing, construction expected jan 2011. models: joseph halligan and michelle young model photography: chris lee and michelle young
