In the outside-to-inside spatial relations, to construct a spatial hierarchy plays a significant role in the creation of space atmosphere. Actually, in the early stage of renovation project, we have been aware of this; moreover, with the progress of the project, this feeling became more and more intense. This project is the renovation of a small building for temporary apartment model display. By utilizing the structural framework of old building, we insert several “boxes” to be displayed into the frame, just as we place scattered pots of plants in the shelf for flowers. The whole building is considered as a three-dimensional garden… These “boxes” are regarded as the first layer of space. After all, the building is renovated for display. The first space as a commercial model will not be analyzed here. We will lay our emphasis on the reception area as the second-layer space, the subsequent layers and their relationship between them. From another perspective, we prefer the reverse order; namely, we place the display template in the last layer — at the end of space experience process. The second-layer space is the indoor public area — an area bringing the greatest experience. Obviously, it is the focus of our space. We hope that this area strikes us as vague and ambiguous from outside to inside, specifically, a harmonious space atmosphere integrating outdoor ease and relaxation with indoor comfort and quiet. Undoubtedly, how to deal with the architectural climatic boundary in this area is a powerful way to make this idea come true. We try to break original indoor and outdoor boundaries with mobile buildings and rebuild the internal and external relationships of the whole space. The external space is driven into the building, but it does not invade the interior, forming an outer space inside the building. By doing this, under the interaction of the interior public area as the second layer and the external garden as the fourth layer, their respective fuzzy extension spaces adjacent to each other are generated, which, together with the entrance porch, is regarded as the third layer of space. There are four floors in this small building. The first to the third floors have the display function, and the fourth floor is the transitional garden for free growth of the plants below. For each floor, it has its own ecological connection. We dig a hole in the floor slabs on each floor so that each floor can have a new void. Meanwhile, a new spatial layer is obtained longitudinally between voids. The void area of each floor varies, hence making the main body of building form a “shelf” truly transparent from top to bottom. The relationship of advance and retreat formed horizontally between interior and exterior spaces and the relationship of void connection formed between floors enable spaces to be endowed with multi-dimensional richness, creating a multi-layer spatial hierarchy between the inside and outside, the upper part and lower part. Naturally, many scenes of face-to-face gaze are formed between spaces, making the public area of the whole building be like a natural mountain “intention”, surrounded by them. Although it is not possible to live, it is impressive to visit and tour… The roof drainage pipe of the old building was paralleled down with the column, which was originally placed inside the wall. But as what we want in this renovation was the framework, it had to be exposed, which made the clean “shelf” look messy. The book of The Craft of Gardens said that the ingenuity lies in skillful use of original conditions and the beauty lies in appropriate shape and size. So, why don’t we make some transformation to make it suitable for the present style? Therefore, a smart device is designed for roof drainage to the first floor as a waterscape. In case of rain, the sound of water can be heard indoors. On sunny days, when the circulation system is opened, the rainwater collected will pour into the pool, adding a poetic atmosphere to the space.
Boundary Creation of Spatial Hierarchy and Layers
Boundary Space Design
Bronze

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Location
Designer
Client
Taihong Jianye International City
Floor area
2700 ㎡
Completion
2020
interior stylist
Tom Huang
interior stylist
Allen Gao
interior stylist
Fu Shi
interior stylist
Shangming Wu