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Nexus · Chunxi

Super Normal Design Office

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Main image - Lu Haha
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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Multi-Brand Store
7.59
8.15
7.80
7.66
7.8
Arthur Guimarães
Arthur Guimarães Chief Executive Officer at Arthur Guimarães Architects
The project was really well conceiv...
7.5
9
8.5
8
8.25
Mark Eric Magno
Mark Eric Magno Principal at Aedas Interiors
6.8
7.8
7.8
7.25
7.41
Jessica Adkins
Jessica Adkins Brand Experience Design Lead Europe at M Moser Associates
7.5
8.5
8.2
7.9
8.03
Josse Popma
Josse Popma Partner at Popma ter Steege Architects
Great. Incredible high level, espec...
8
9
9
8
8.5
Xuechen Chen
Xuechen Chen Architectural Designer at X.C Studio
The project presents a creative app...
7.9
8
8.3
7.8
8
Zizhao Li
Zizhao Li Cofounder and Chief Designer at DSC · Design
The layout of the space is quite ap...
8
8
8
8
8
Burton Baldridge
Burton Baldridge Founder at Baldridge Architects
7
8
8
8
7.75
Serhii Makhno
Serhii Makhno Founder at MAKHNO Studio
8
8
8
8
8
Mike McGirr
Mike McGirr Managing Partner and Design Principal at red design
7.02
7.83
7.83
7.56
7.56
Pooja Shah-Mulani
Pooja Shah-Mulani Partner and Design Director at LW Design
9
9
7
8
8.25
Suvi Saloniemi
Suvi Saloniemi Head of Exhibitions at Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design Museum
6
7
6
7
6.5
Anna Gitelman
Anna Gitelman Associate Professor at Suffolk University
Beautiful interpretation of Chinese...
8
9
9
9
8.75
Harkaran Singh Boparai
Harkaran Singh Boparai Founder at Space 5
8
7.5
7
7.5
7.5
Katie Mitchell
Katie Mitchell Managing Director at Seen Studios
8
8
8
8
8
Wenqing Zhou
Wenqing Zhou Founder at Add Culture & Creative Development
7.5
9
8
8
8.13
Yan Zhang
Yan Zhang Cofounder at say architects
7.54
7.64
7.44
7.23
7.46
Jianan Shan
Jianan Shan Cofounder at say architects
7.23
7.23
6.61
5
6.52
Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
GRAND JURY VOTES
Shortlisted - Multi-Brand Store of the Year
8.11
8.49
8.15
8.22
8.24
John Naranjo
John Naranjo Creative Director at Arcadis - Callison RTKL
Creative community gathering space-...
7.59
8.56
8.48
8.65
8.32
Christopher Lye
Christopher Lye Principal at Woods Bagot
Good zoning and overall atmosphere...
9.15
8.51
7.8
8.23
8.42
Torquil McIntosh
Torquil McIntosh Cofounder at Sybarite
7.8
8.15
7.8
8.2
7.99
Leendert Tange
Leendert Tange Creative Partner at Storeage-Group
The building simply feels natural a...
8
8.49
8
8.04
8.13
Anette Skeie
Anette Skeie Head of Design at Norco Interior
The concept and the space give a go...
8
8.75
8.68
8
8.36
Client
Shanghai Jiaweilai Real Estate
Floor area
2280 ㎡
Completion
2023

Embracing core values of "vitality, low carbon, and intelligence," this 140,000-square-meter development envisions a technological future, and a humanistic future, aiming to build multi-dimensional symbiotic connections. Master planned with multiple 10-minute walk units, it creates several super intersections integrating apartments, street blocks, offices, businesses, and other varied operations, which sets a model of suburban Shanghai-style transit-oriented development.

The design team's primary consideration in interior design was to create a layout that facilitates symbiosis of different types of businesses. The first floor, defined as a "food market," seamlessly merges dining and shopping areas, optimizing flexibility and expanding outdoor seating areas for tenants. A central kitchen with an optimized operational circulation offers more potential for first and second-floor businesses. The open kitchen design enhances visual appeal while fostering closer customer interaction with restaurant owners.

The second level, conceived as a "food community," strengthens connection between food and the community. A time-sharing strategy is employed, aiming to facilitate diverse food-related community activities in this space. To achieve this, Super Normal Design collaborated closely with Atelier Z+ to optimize the original space layout and positions of pipelines on the second floor, to weaken the boundaries between varied businesses and foster a "food community" capable of adapting to future possibilities.

Meanwhile, working with brands settled in the development and eco-friendly material suppliers, the design team managed to use recycled materials for the finishes of tabletops and bar counters.
Boards made from recycled fresh-cut flower waste, old cargo boxes, and other environmentally friendly materials are creatively employed to craft the display islands through splicing and combination, achieving both aesthetics and flexibility.

In some areas, the design team skillfully used eco-friendly materials and reusable designs, incorporating various elements into the interior space and creating connections with the bar counters, display stands, and walls. In addition, the design prioritizes flexible circulation to facilitate easy mobility, disassembly, and reassembly of display props, to realize the flexible and dynamic reuse of space.

In this project, the design team created two art installations through AI technology, but chose to display them in a low-profile way. One installation features mechanical meerkats, imagining a future where human continue to exist or a future where humans have returned ecological freedom to the Earth. The other installation is an AI-generated portrait hidden within a painting wall, based on the prototype of the Chunxi founders, showcasing the potential integration of AI into social life. This design approach reflects the team's belief and hope that AI can seamlessly integrate into society, bringing new vitality.