U-CUBE Office Reconstruction, “P.U.R.E.” quality in design
Lacime Architects
Office&Business
/
Completed
The project is located at 1520 Alley, Huasha Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai City.The site is rather complex, the north facade of old building is major image facing to the Huashan Road Green Park, the east is existed community, and the south is power distribution room. Meanwhile, lots of old building shall be considered, and relationship between the building and nearby environment, as well as existed buildings shall be reviewed during reconstruction. Architects aim to give it new appearance and life, so as to provide high quality space and environment, build up exquisite office and commercial building, improve urban image of Huashan Road.
The project was to have a “P.U.R.E.” quality in design (P: peaceful, a peaceful palace in the city; U: urban, urban is the background; R: regeneration, give the old building a new appearance; E: ecology). As major display surface, modularized GRC and EPS gridding components of different size are used on north facade, forming a Mondrian mechanism for geometric abstract painting, a city artwork; it could also forming an continuously changed interface than could be perceived; while shadows created by continuous movement of the sun adds dynamic sense of the building, which is depend on position of the viewer, light and shadow, giving the building new appearance and life. The simple white exterior of the building features angled frames, and is like a beacon of light for the surrounding neighborhood.
Architects aim to create a geometric abstract painting by Mondrian mechanism in city interface, a city artwork. Each angled frames show different scenes for visitors or others passing by here, such as the scene in movie 《Rear Window》 directed by Hitchcock in 1954. In the meantime, it could also form an continuously changed interface than could be perceived; while shadows created by continuous movement of the sun adds dynamic sense of the building, which is depend on position of the viewer, light and shadow, giving the building new appearance and life, a beacon of light for the surrounding neighborhood.
As for vertical transportation, there are totally 5 floors in the building; the first floor is directly accessed via the street; the second and above are accessed via eastern aisles, and then transferred from interior lobby; a self-governed gate is set at the east side for convenience of management; office lobby of the southeast corner could be reached after pass through a linear scenery yard; transition from noise to quiet, and transfer from conspicuous to stealthy, as well as emphasize users' experience, delivery a special humanistic connotation and brand value.
Other design elements add even more light to the building. In the side alleys, what were once a dark and uninviting spaces, have been transformed into bright alleys with hidden lighting. The lighting runs from the building, across the ground, and up onto a decorative fence. The decorative fence also has hidden lighting beneath it, that guides visitors around the property.
Credits
Shanghai
China
U-CUBE
11/2018
2740 mq
Lacime Architects
Xiong Xing (Lead Architect), Zhang Yi, Wu Di, Ma Dawei, Zeng Xiaohui
Construction Drawing Design: U-CUBE
Terrence Zhang
Curriculum
Lacime Architects uphelds the architectural philosophy "Simplify complicated material" since it was established in Shanghai. The name "Lacime" was given by founder Song Zhaoqing. It comes from French which means"peak"and express the aim to design first-class architecture work.
After 19 years' development, we have over 700 architects and rich experience in the large projects in china and overseas. We actively participate in the residential, commercial, cultural, tourism and various type of work, aiming to cultivate local talents, integrate elite design team and provide best solutions to the clients.