Orthogonal wooden frames have long been the primary structural prototype for Eastern palaces, temples, and residences. Shanxi is an important preservation site for ancient Chinese wooden architecture, boasting numerous traditional wooden buildings. These enduring structures subtly preserve Eastern architectural traditions.

Dannong, a clothing brand deeply rooted in Eastern aesthetics, has many stores across China. As the brand expands into Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi, how should the store space be designed to display its garments? How can the space coexist harmoniously with its context? These are the key considerations for the project.

Frame and Garment
When analyzing traditional Eastern wooden frames from both plane and section views, their orthogonal structure—comprising vertical and horizontal elements—becomes clear. From a graphical perspective, both the vertical and horizontal components are essentially "lines," and the way garments are hung follows a similar linear form. These two elements—structural lines and linear hanging of clothes—are naturally aligned to some extent.

The project is situated within an urban shopping mall featuring a concrete-frame structure. The design team sought to integrate a traditional wooden frame structure within this modern industrial framework, creating a dialogue with Taiyuan's rich wooden architecture heritage. The existing column span configuration of the space dictates that a wooden frame with three bays and four column spans is the ideal spatial arrangement for the store.

Heaviness and Lightness
Traditional Shanxi wooden buildings are characterized by their robust, thick beams, which convey a sense of material weight and presence. A notable example is the wing hall of Foguang Temple, built during the Jin Dynasty. To install the timber beams, workers first piled soil beneath and used it to leverage the beams into position, a testament of the weight of the wood.

In this project, the selection of thick wooden beams follows this principle. The weight of these beams creates a stark contrast with the garments hung below, where fabric is light, soft, and delicate. The substantial wooden beams and the thin, lightweight fabric together enhance the sensory experience of both materials. While the beams seem to "hold" the garments, the design also subtly mirrors Dannong's approach to garment-making—meticulous craftsmanship, perfection and high quality.

The Art of Mortise and Tenon Joints
Mortise and tenon joint is a hallmark of Eastern craftsmanship, embodying both wisdom and creativity. The designers sought to implement this ancient technique, blurring the boundaries between large and small wooden elements. Functionally, the garment rails are small wooden components, while the concrete columns rooted in the floor and the upper wooden columns incorporate four types of tenons. The joining of columns and beams, along with the interconnection between beams, demonstrates Eastern mortise-and-tenon construction tech.