The ADARC ANNEX STUDIO is an architectural and interior design exercise, based on the transformation of a heritage Diesel Engine factory into an all-new design hub for young architects in Guangzhou. The now-vacantold factory was built in 1922 and, once as the first Diesel Engine manufacturer in China almost 100 years ago.
The existing building is a gigantic industrial structure with super long-span trusses, which seriously separates all loft space on upper floors. The design is therefore call for innovative solutions on bridging over the fragmented area and transcend this heritage industrial structure into 1000 s.m. GFA working space with functional freedom and spatial liberty.
2.OVERALL EXCELLENCE
The design strategies as well as overall outcome reflects the art of balance, in between historic preservation and innovative transformation of modern needs. The design carefully protected the original structures, giving high degree of respects to the beauty of old space, while lending new opportunities to create space diversity and functionality. In this project, the architect developed a series of tectonic approaches for bamboo and wood detailing and installation, to make possible the contemporary articulation and expression for modern oriental architecture reconsidered.
Breaking the limitation of the old structural constrains, the design successfully generated multi-layers of new interior landscape, using series of wood or steel staircase to link up complicated levels and functions. By sophisticatedly manipulating spatial transparency, the new studio space engenders intrigue visual continuity, free-flow of mind and thoughts, and diverse type of activities inside and outside the workplace.
3.USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Bamboo, wood, and terra cotta brick detailing and installation are widely used in the project. In response to the low-cost and fast construction nature of the project, the architect encouraged the use of local material such as second-hand aged wood floor, inexpensive local bamboo strip, and local produced terra cotta bricks, to minimize the transportation and installation costs, which formed an important part of the passive sustainable design strategy.
Moreover, the project applied passive heat management strategies through the introduction of two large verandah garden and small urban farms on upper floors, as to reduce heat gain while bringing agricultural activities to the urban office.