This is the world’s first venue designed to introduce Tai Chi to a younger and youthful demographic. A slow, tranquil form of Chinese martial arts, Tai Chi is mainly practiced by seniors in urban parks, and is at risk of being forgotten. Yet, in our age of relentless digital distraction, Tai Chi leads us to embrace the physical, putting us in an entirely analog dimension. With a Tai Chi area, a wellness center, and a tea room, Body Wisdom Studio seeks to provide urban dwellers with a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The main challenge came from a lack of precedents for this type of venue. No one has attempted to define what Tai Chi means spatially in the modern era and how it could be brought indoors. From a functional perspective, the space needed to be conducive to the activity, taking into consideration lighting, temperature, atmosphere and Tai Chi’s unique pace and form. Just like how Yoga was rebranded as aspirational in the 90s, this venue aims to do the same for Tai Chi.

To this end, the studio combined tradition and modernity, pop culture and history. As Tai Chi was invented during the Ming Dynasty, call backs to the era emerge in the form of bold, geometric elements. By contrast, the color palette and materials recall the decor of the fight-clubs seen in local 1970s productions of Kung Fu movies.

Tai Chi consists of exercises balanced between Yin Yang. Thus, the material selection and floor plan were designed to reflect these principles, with sun exposure being the main determinant:

An interplay of light and shadow is conveyed via contrasting materials, such as a dark sultry wallcovering next to light colored paint and Huang Hua Li inspired wood finish, strategically placed in dimmer or more sunlit areas respectively. Also, the space is configured so that Yang spaces receive the most sunlight during the day, due to southern exposure, thereby accommodating group training sessions. By contrast, Yin spaces, being more subdued, cater to traditional holistic treatments that soothe the mind and body. A tea room acts as an intermediary, 'balanced' space, where guests from both the Yin and Yang come to gather and mingle.

This project is innovative because it is the first space of its kind, aiming to breathe new life into a centuries-old artform. In an era where different cultures are returning to embrace their ancestral practices, this space attempts to define what Tai Chi means in the 21st century from a visual, physical, and spiritual point of view. It directly benefits the population of Hong Kong, both as a place where they can achieve physical and mental fitness, and as a refuge from the overwhelming rhythm of a major metropolis.

As a cultural initiative reviving a storied art and pastime, it highlights the principle of Yin and Yang, which visitors can easily experience firsthand by simply walking into the studio. It is sustainable through the use of heritage materials and through the enrichment of human well-being.