Youth Center (2012)

Project Data
 
Total GFA:   90.000m2
Location:   Nanning, China
Function:   Education
Features:   Facades derived from local motives, human scale public space and usable roofs
Scope:   Master Plan, Architectural Concept Design
Status:   Planning
 
 
Project Summary
 
At the heart of the design concept is the aim to provide a colorful and playful environment to growing up children and teenagers which is full of cultural references, themes and motifs and thus becomes a vivid celebration of local traditions.

On a functional level, the program is divided into 5 distinct activity zones. By literally “weaving” them together - a nod to the local fabric traditions - synergies are created with the landscape linking up activity zones and letting them overlap, add and harmonize. The prominent lakeside position of the site was used in a dialectical way: creating icons to look at from the lake and providing panoramic vistas over the lake. The two main directions of movement - alongside the lake and perpendicular to the lake - are distinguished by different facade treatment to facilitate orientation yet create a spatial environment full of engagement, variation and surprise.

Each building possesses its own unique facade pattern and color scheme, following an abstraction of actual local Zhuang fabrics. Like the patterns tell a story and stir distinct associations, each building tells the story about its interior on the facade: openings are placed, scaled and treated according to the adjacent use, large translucent walls of layered colors accentuate each section of an activity zone within each building.

While creating a kid’s environment uniquely rich in perception without becoming child-like, every spatial detail reflects a cultural heritage and at large creates an iconic lakefront landmark.