2023, the Former Residence of Zhang Taiyan was planned to turn from a government office into a dual-functioning space encompassing a bookstore and museum.
Innovation:
1. In addressing the circulation and spatial relationships within the over 90-year-old protected cultural heritage site, the design team decided to selectively open parts of it for public use. This requires planning circulation patterns that better align with the intended public functions.
2. With reference to the characteristics of Suzhou gardens, known for their shifting scenery and varying elevations, the design seeks to create a diverse experience within extremely limited space. The creation of folded spaces is intended to enhance the integration of "greenery" and "garden" elements, fostering the concept of a vertical garden - to serve citizens of different age groups and incorporate reading into daily life.
3. Considering the constraints of the existing site conditions, different materials and colors are strategically employed to enhance the overall tour experience while maintaining the cohesive aesthetic of the entire venue.
Creativity:
Connect the rooms through a viewing corridor. Divide the rooms into two. North serves as B.O.H while the south as public. This resolves both circulation and lighting issues. Creation of folded spaces: before, each room was challenging to distinguish. The only clue was the locations of the trees outside. “Vertical Courtyard” was drafted to draw the “garden” into the space “Ambiguous Landscape”:the existing garden was straightforward. The transformation introduces a layer of ambiguity. Through the creation of a new layer over the current space, the design allows people to perceive a vision in every corner while preserving the integrity of the original elevation and structure.
Functionality:
In addition to the publicly accessible areas, the bookstore requires designated back-of-house spaces. The design divides the originally deep, narrow, and disjointed layout into two distinct sections. Utilizing the first and second columns on the north side as a boundary, the space is vertically segmented into the northern and southern halves. The space to the south of this boundary serves as a public area for visitors, while the northern section is dedicated to back-of-house activities. Additionally, service counters are placed in the recesses formed by door frames and columns to maximize the functional utility. This ensures a clear separation between the visitor circulation and the back-of-house circulation.
Sustainability:
As a historical listed building, the renovation emphasizes reversibility. It allows: construction speed; quality control; cost efficiency; environmental and safety; transportation efficiency. It provides community gathering space; promotes cultural diversity. It promotes dialogue and understanding to enhance the social cohesion and tolerance within the community. This fosters a sense of ownership for the community and city.
Gu Wu Xuan Bookstore
Tsing-Tien Making
Silver
Silver

1 / 19

Andrea Zickhardt
Managing Director
at Holzer Kobler Architekturen
5
7
6
7
6.25

Preeti Singh
Brand Director
at India Design ID
7.5
7.5
8
6
7.25

Anne-Laure Pingreoun
Founder
at Alter-Projects
Beautiful re-development of a liste...
7
8
8
7
7.5

Julia Chiaramonti
Founder
at Julia Chiaramonti
8.79
8.29
9.06
6.93
8.27

Ronnie Belizaire
Studio Practice Leader and Principal
at HKS Inc.
great adaptive reuse story and marr...
7
7
8
9
7.75

Liz Gallagher
Studio Director
at March and White Design
Interesting how the use of color br...
8
7.5
8.5
6
7.5

Claude Saos
Head of interior architecture and design
at LISAA Strasbourg
7
7
8
7
7.25

Tanya Suvannapong
Design Director
at Gensler
7
7.5
7
7
7.13

Leendert Tange
Creative Partner
at Storeage-Group
6
7.5
6
6
6.38

Peter Pan
Founder and CEO
at Noa Galaxy
6
7
6
6
6.25

Judy Dowle
Associate Design Director
at Studio XAG
7
7.5
7.5
6
7

Ismael Abedin Ingelmo
Founder and Director
at DXMID
7.27
7.62
6.84
6.84
7.14

Quan Huang
Chief Designer
at WJID
8
8
7
7
7.5

Servaas Vehmeijer
Partner and Managing Director
at The Invisible Party
8
8
8
7
7.75

Orlando Marques
Founder and Director
at OMstudio Lighting
7.11
7.53
7.42
6.77
7.21

Pepa Casado D'Amato
Trend Researcher
at Futurea
7.11
7.53
7.42
6.77
7.21

Nazanin Naeini
Exhibition Designer
at Guggenheim Museum
In this project, the green hues acc...
8
8
8
7
7.75

Yan Zhang
Cofounder
at say architects
7.11
7.53
7.42
6.77
7.21

Søren Pihlmann
Founder
at pihlmann architects
9
8.5
8
8
8.38
Designer
Client
Gu Wu Xuan Books Publishing
Floor area
1800 ㎡
Completion
2023
Finishes