The programmatic complexity of the project came from the request to renovate an existing structure that was built 20 years ago yet never put into use. Our team was tasked with renewing to a contemporary mixed-use complex and appealing to neighboring college students of over 10 nearby institutions. During the transformation, our design team focused on preserving and utilizing the existing building, while refreshing the old impression of a shopping mall, creating an original and futuristic experience for the youth. Inspired by science fiction writer Cixin Liu, whose literary work has recently risen in popularity among the young, our design also hopes to implement new technology into architecture, participating in imaginative and inspiring place-making for future users. Thus, the concept for the architecture is centered around the idea of the “Spacecraft of the Next Gen”.
The translucent new facade interacts with the existing one, creating the transitional space connecting the interior and the exterior. At night, the colors of the existing facade are reflected through the new facade’s imagery, becoming a remarkable gem in the urban landscape.
