The project is situated in Yiwu Economic – technological Area and beside Yiwu River. With a total construction area of 82,360 sqm, it’s a large cultural complex that serves a multitude of purposes including cultural and recreational activities, education and training, sports and physical exercise, etc.
Project name: Yiwu Cultural Square
Location: intersection of Xinke Road and Xijiang Road, Economic-technological Development Area, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
Site area: 29,362 sqm
Gross floor area: 82,360 sqm
Interior space area: 77,950 sqm
Plot ratio: 1.24
Greening rate: 16.4%
Architectural design company: The Architectural Design and Research Institute of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. (UAD)
Architectural design company website: http://www.zuadr.com/
Architects: Dong Danshen, Qiu Wenxiao, Chen Yu, Zheng Maoen, Zhang Jiachen
Structural engineers: Shen Jin, Cheng Ke, Ding Lei, Bao Kanyuan, Ni Wenhao, Li Shaohua, Chen Gang, Jin Zhenfen
MEP consultants: Yang Yi, Chen Ji, Zheng Guoxing, Ren Xiaodong, Yang Wenzheng, Sun Dengfeng, Fang Huoming, Chen Zhoujie, Shao Chunting, Yang Guozhong, Lin Hua, Li Xiangqun
Lighting consultant: Cui Zichuang
Quantity surveyors: Sun Wentong, Zhou Yongjie
Main materials: aluminum composite panels (Alucobond), low-e glass (Chunshui), aluminum profiles (Nanya)
Curtain wall design: Bai Qi’an, Hang Fei, Tao Shanjun, Cao Dongqiu
Landscape design: Yu Bing, Pan Rifeng, Gong Zhihua, Feng Ji, Zhang Wenhao, Huang Binbin, Zhang Jun
Photography: Zhao Qiang
Globally renowned for its burgeoning small commodity market, Yiwu is a Chinese city where small and medium-sized enterprises are densely concentrated and private economy is highly developed, which are reflected in the urban built landscape — awash with a large number of homogenized, small-scale and high-density buildings. The local citizens have a strong desire for iconic city architectures and open places for public activities. After being included in the central city planning scheme of Zhejiang Province, Yiwu has begun to take firm steps towards becoming an international metropolis. The municipal government hoped to take the construction of Yiwu cultural center as an opportunity to show citizens a new city image and declare cultural confidence to the world and future.
As approaching the design of the large multifunctional cultural complex, the key considerations were how to express respect to local culture in an appropriate manner, and how to present the modern appearance of the emerging city whilst taking into account local people’s traditional and humanistic sentiments.
The design gathers parts into an integrated whole, incorporates and coordinates complicated functions within a minimalist architectural structure, and produces a large architectural volume that differs from that of ordinary buildings in the city.
The project inherits the courtyard-centered spatial layout of traditional Chinese architectures. As opposed to arranging a big hall in the center area of the building, the architects designed a multi-dimensional courtyard, which starts from a sunken square, stretches upwards along slopes and big steps and eventually reaches the rooftop garden, featuring a flexible and smooth circulation and offering varying views for people at each step. Such design also draws on the spatial organization techniques of traditional Chinese gardens. Around three sides of the courtyard, the functional zones of theatre, fitness center, youth center are orderly arranged, while the other side is the main entrance with a huge roof resembling a cloud hanging up in the sky.
The wide “gray space” under the entrance is derived from the spatial pattern of traditional public areas in southern China such as performance stages and ancestral halls, which perfectly meets the demands of local public cultural events. The urban stage under the expansive roof is the most popular with citizens, where they are protected from wind and rain and can also enjoy a good view of the enchanting river scenery and bustling cityscape. Every morning, lots of people come there for sports, exercise and rest. The abstract red corbels under the eaves of the big roof have a unique form, looking like stage curtains and ancient Chinese palaces’ brackets, which embodies traditional oriental culture. The red color of metal plates was customized, called “Yiwu Red”. Those plates are characterized by changing hues, which are vermilion in normal conditions and present brilliant golden color under light from certain angles. “Yiwu Red” implies that the city can provide merchants worldwide with fantastic opportunities to seek wealth and realize their dreams. To search for the surprising “golden hue” has become a fun thing for tourists to do at the Yiwu Culture Square.
The sunken square is combined with a stepped seating area, making it suitable for organizing public cultural activities with Chinese characteristics. When walking across the long and big steps and reaching the wide open rooftop, people can have a panoramic view of the charming Yiwu River, Diaoyuji Park, and Lion Mountain. As night falls, the simplistic facade facing the river turns into a huge screen, which becomes more glamorous by reflection of the gleaming Yiwu River, hence presenting a gorgeous view of the city.
UAD
The Architectural Design & Research Institute Of Zhejiang University Co., Ltd. (UAD) was established in 1953. It is one of the earliest First Class Design Institutes among major national universities and has been more than 65 years of history.
The company now has nearly 1100 employees among which 1 Master Engineering Designer of China, 1 expert entitled to Special Governmental Allowances of the State Council, 2 Top-100 Architects of China, 4 Master Engineering Surveyors and Designers of Zhejiang Province, 4 Outstanding Engineers of China, 10 Awardees of the Young Architect Prize of the China Architectural Institute; 114 National First Class Certified Architects, 72 First Class Certified Structural Engineers, 16 Planning Engineers and 120 other Certified Designers.
The mission of UAD is to create Harmonious environment, global vision, complete services, and highest professionalism. During the past decades, company has always persisted in creating fine and innovative works, contributing a large number of outstanding works in various fields. Moreover, the Company has also won more than 900 awards for outstanding design, excellent projects or research outcomes at national, ministerial and provincial levels over the years. Business scope covers: various public and civil architectural design; urban and rural planning and urban design; interior design; landscape architecture and landscape design; municipal public works; geotechnical engineering; curtain wall design; BIM design; light environment design; ancient architecture, contemporary and Modern building repair and protection as well as cultural relics protection planning; steel structure design; underground space design; construction project general contracting; engineering consulting and energy conservation assessment of all civil construction projects.
Actively and extensively carry out international academic exchanges and engineering joint design. UAD has cooperated with well-known design companies or firms from United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands and other countries to complete variety number of architectural design.
Since UAD establishment, it has always persisted in combining design, teaching and research. Based on the resources of Zhejiang University, company hires Academicians of the China Academy of Engineering and of the China Academy of Sciences to provide technical support for blossoming architectural creations and active participation in competitions. UAD was awarded top-hundred architectural design institutes in China, Top innovative Prospecting and Design Company, Top-Ten Research and Design Company in Hangzhou, and was among the first batch of the National Engineering Practice and Education Center.
Over the past 65 years, UAD has always adhered to the spirit of “Seeking truth & innovation” and following “Excellence & (advocating) perfection” as its quality guideline. Dedicated to provide quality design and service for all sectors of the Community, and striving to achieve the core values of “design creates common value”.
