FAB-UNION SPACE ON THE WEST BUND
There are many uncertainties to design micro-scale architecture during the rapid Chinese urbanization process. It demands architects to maximize the floor area ratio, the full utilization of the space, and at the same time to create a universal space which can adapt to the future multiply programs. Meanwhile, the project has to be spatially identified from its surrounding context.
Fab-Union Space will become a future non-profit contemporary art, architecture and culture communication center. It is aimed to be an exhibition and communication space. It is located in the West Bund area in Shanghai, which is planned to be a future art and culture center of the city. Although it is micro in scale (around 300 square meters), FU Space is another parametric design construction practice for us. It represents our recently research and currently new thinking about space, material, and construction methodology.
In the beginning of the design, in order to maximize the utilization of space, the project has been divided into two parts: west and east, the east part has two floors 4.2 height exhibition spaces and the west part has three floors 2.8 height regular exhibition spaces. The different heights between two sides not only provide the maximized floor area ratio, but also provide the spatial flexibility for the future office and exhibition programs. The floors are supported by the two 150mm concrete walls from the outside. And in the middle of the space, the floors are supported by the circulation stairs, the floor gravitational force has been carry out by the deliberately circulation design. At this point, the circulation becomes structure, which breaks the dualistic relationship between structure and circulation and they become one assimilated architectural element.
Meanwhile, the mutual restraint and balance between the circulation and the gravity conduction lead to the spatial form design. The dynamic nonlinear spatial surface conduct the gravitational force and different nonlinear surfaces support each other. The architectural façade is minimalistic pure transparency which externalization the internal concrete structure from the outside. This design strategy ensures the spatial integrity of each side galleries, the connection circulation emphasis the dynamic human movement.
And according to the Aerodynamics theory it maximized the ventilation of the whole building. All special space experience lies in the in-between circulation space. Interior public space followed by the exterior form finding process, is enhanced by an abstract thinking on creating a kind of experience climbing the rockery of Chinese garden. The key aspect of Chinese garden design is to make it big through small scale, which is extremely efficient in changing sceneries with varying viewpoints. The abstract process for this kind of experience is achieved by the HP surface geometry, which is intensified from different perspective.
As plastic material, concrete has the characteristics of construction and has the characteristics of foreign construction. The dynamic nonlinear spatial shape is built on the basis of structural performance optimization and spatial dynamics. The whole process use a variety of design methods of cutting stone, perspective geometry, and the Algorithm configuration. The whole building from design to construction lasted for only four months should be a digital design and construction method of the miracle.
