Lilac Reborn Innenraumgestaltung eines Medienzentrums by Cheng Sun, Dagang Qu and Xi Huang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in Eisen in Innenraumdesign Competition Category.
EisenInnenraum· 2026
Lilac Reborn Innenraumgestaltung eines Medienzentrums
by Cheng Sun, Dagang Qu and Xi Huang
Client: Harbin Institute of Technology Sun Cheng Young Scientist Studio
A' Design Award in Eisen Winner in Innenraum Category
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The Design
About Lilac Reborn Innenraumgestaltung eines Medienzentrums
Lilac Reborn ist ein Medienzentrum, das durch die Renovierung eines verlassenen Hotels in Harbin, China, entstanden ist. Das Design ist von der lokalen Fliederblüte inspiriert. Zwei gemeinschaftlich genutzte Bereiche bilden das Herzstück: die Fliederhalle mit natürlichem Licht und einem Wasserspiel sowie die Regenerationshalle, die aus recyceltem Bauschutt errichtet wurde. Zwei Atrien bringen Tageslicht in zweiundneunzig Prozent der Funktionsbereiche. Verwendet wurden Recyclingbeton, Hochleistungsdämmplatten und umweltfreundliche Beschichtungen. Bewegliche Trennwände ermöglichen es, Räume in Vortragssäle oder Arbeitsplätze zu verwandeln.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award in Eisen
Lilac Reborn Innenraumgestaltung eines Medienzentrums ist Gewinner des A' Design Award in Eisen, einer prestigeträchtigen Anerkennung für gute Designs, die die beruflichen und industriellen Anforderungen erfüllen, die an gut gestaltete Schöpfungen gestellt werden. Eisen-Gewinner zeigen großes Können, hohe Spezialisierung, fachkundiges Verständnis und die kreative Kapazität ihrer Schöpfer. Von Lilac Reborn Innenraumgestaltung eines Medienzentrums wird erwartet, dass es eine hochgeschätzte, bewunderte und geliebte Schöpfung ist, die praktisch und innovativ ist. Dieses mit dem A' Design Award in Eisen prämierte Design integriert bewährte Branchenverfahren und weist kompetente technische Merkmale in Verbindung mit Know-how und Talent auf. Lilac Reborn Innenraumgestaltung eines Medienzentrums wird für seine Gründlichkeit geschätzt und ist darauf ausgelegt, Verbesserungen der Lebensqualität zu liefern, die dazu beitragen, die Welt zu einem besseren Ort zu machen.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This project renovates an abandoned hotel into a media center within a tight budget, marking a first for ultra-low-energy renovation in a frigid region. Drawing on the metaphor of media flowers blooming in a palace, two core shared spaces were designed: the Lilac Hall, featuring natural light and a water feature, and the Regeneration Hall, built with recycled construction waste. Dual atriums ensure indoor warmth and brightness while meeting the three-star green building standard and LEED Platinum requirements.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Total area: 7,000 square meters
- Tags
- Building renewal, Computational design, Media office building, Designer-AI collaborative design
- Production Technology
- AI computational design was used to optimize spatial curvature, and same-source recycling technology achieved resource reuse. Fifteen ultra-low-energy technologies were integrated, such as enhanced thermal insulation and passive daylighting. Building performance simulation verified a 25 percent reduction in energy consumption and an improvement in the useful daylight illuminance index. Modular assembly was adopted using recycled concrete, high-performance insulation panels, and eco-friendly coatings.
- Design Challenge
- The core challenge was realizing ultra-low-energy renovation of an old building in frigid Harbin, while balancing historical fabric preservation, media hub functional demands, and the implementation of AI-driven collaborative design. External Obstacles: Sparse technical data on the renewal of old buildings in cold regions, insufficient low-temperature resistance of recycled materials, and strict fire codes restricting structural modifications. Internal Conflicts: Bridging the gap between AI design and traditional construction practices, and reconciling public accessibility (for media lounges) with the need for closed office spaces. Solutions: Adopted multi-objective optimization + BIM technology, customized thermal insulation systems, recycled material modification, and the TOPSIS method to balance regulatory requirements, performance indicators, and functional needs.
- Research
- This applied research explores AI-driven ultra-low-energy renovation for old buildings in frigid climates. Using deep learning and multi-objective optimization, the study balanced historical preservation with media function requirements. Tools including BIM and on-site sensors verified the results. The project achieved 25 percent lower energy consumption and natural light coverage for 92 percent of the building. This validates the application of computational design in urban renewal, supporting carbon goals and setting a benchmark for smart, green infrastructure in cold regions.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the lilac of Harbin, this project focuses on the green renewal of abandoned buildings. It addresses the gap in ultra-low-energy renovation for regions with temperatures reaching minus 30 degrees Celsius. Driven by the demand for shared media spaces, it integrates local culture with eco-technologies. Through artificial intelligence computational design and same-source recycling of construction debris, the project reflects a vision of a green, tech-driven, and art-integrated media hub.
- Project Duration
- Duration: 2023~2025;
Location: Harbin, Heilongjiang, China - Operation Flow
- The media hub is fully accessible to the public. Visitors enter the Lilac Hall for social gatherings, media displays, or community events. Natural light illuminates 92 percent of functional areas year-round, significantly reducing artificial lighting needs. The specialized insulation system maintains a comfortable indoor temperature of 20 to 24 degrees Celsius even when it is minus 30 degrees Celsius outside. Modular spaces can be rearranged into lecture halls or workstations using simple movable partitions.
- Team Members
- Studio Director: Cheng Sun
Lead Architect: Dagang Qu
Architect: Xi Huang
Architect: Xiufeng Li
Architect: Yue Wang
Architect: Wanying Zheng
Architect: Xumiao Guo
Architect: Jian Zhang
Interior Designer: Guoliang Xu - Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Dagang Qu (CMG Project Team), Media Hub Renovation, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Dagang Qu (CMG Project Team), Lilac Media Hub and Office Space, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Dagang Qu (CMG Project Team), Lilac Media Hub Transportation Core, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Dagang Qu (CMG Project Team), Lilac Waterscape Bar Transformed, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer Xi Huang (CMG Project Team), Regeneration Hall (recycled construction waste), 2025.
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