Press Release
Renovation in Ohrid Nautical Club by Jqyy Is Granted the A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Jqyy acknowledged for architecture, building and structure design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Renovation in Ohrid Nautical Club by Jqyy has been granted the A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. The result belongs to the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The A' Design Award Explained
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Regarding Renovation in Ohrid Nautical Club
Renovation in Ohrid is a conceptual nautical club designed for a modernist building on the waterfront of Ohrid, North Macedonia. The original structure, completed in 1955 as a summer retreat, is restored by removing later additions. Brick walls are replaced with glass blocks, which keep the rhythm of the facade and bring daylight inside. Two new cubic volumes are built in steel, and a large mesh canopy unites the three forms and shapes sheltered spaces between them. A distinct paving pattern marks the footprint of a former bar, recalling the history of the site.
About Jqyy
JQYY is a dynamic and innovative architectural design studio founded by four talented designers: Jing Chen, Qizhen Tang, Yanci Chen, and Yinzhu Yao. All four members graduated from prestigious design universities in the United States. Despite being a young studio, JQYY has already made a significant impact on the international architectural scene, winning prestigious awards and recognition from global competitions such as YAC, Terraviva, Reuse Italy, Kaira Looro, Muse Design Awards, and French Design Awards.
Award Record
This recognition makes Jqyy a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award
The A' Architecture Design Award is an international architectural design competition recognizing good architectural designs by best architects worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to architectural design studios, building contractors, structural engineering firms and architecture and design consultants from all countries. Entries typically include skyscrapers, museums, residential buildings, commercial complexes, educational institutions and religious structures. Awarded architectural projects are published at https://designers.org/design-category/architecture
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/165176
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/165176
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!165176
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/358048
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Renovation in Ohrid Nautical Club
- Function
- Nautical Club
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Cadet Blue, Dark Gray, Dark Slate Gray, Light Steel Blue and Dark Olive Green
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Jqyy
- Country
- United States of America
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #165176
Credits
- Team
- Jing Chen, Qizhen Tang, Yanci Chen and Yinzhu Yao
- Image Credits
- Image #No 1-5: Creator: Jing Chen, Qizhen Tang, Yanci Chen, Yinzhu Yao, Renovation: Nautical Club Ohrid, 2024.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The design blends old and new by removing non-original elements and replacing brick walls with glass blocks, introducing a modern yet translucent aesthetic. Historical features are preserved through subtle details like distinct paving patterns. Two new cubic volumes are added, unified by a canopy that creates intimate spaces and enhances the interplay of light and shadow, symbolizing the dialogue between the site's past and present.
- Inspiration
- Boris Chipan's most iconic legacy is the Youth Union Summer Retreat building, located on the waterfront in the Daljan neighborhood, Ohrid. Completed in 1955, it was his first modern design and the region's initial tourism facility, operating until its closure in 2000. This minimalist cube, resembling the Savoye style, exemplifies modernist architecture with its material choices and subtle local influences. The project revitalizes the building and transforms it into a vibrant Nautical Club.
- Research
- Boris Chipan, born in Ohrid in 1918, was a prominent figure in 20th-century Macedonian architecture, renowned for his work as a conservator, architect, and professor. His deep connection to his hometown of Ohrid greatly influenced his career, fueling his passion for preserving local heritage. Growing up surrounded by Ohrid's historical beauty, Chipan dedicated much of his career to the conservatory practice, focusing on preserving the region's architectural treasures. His love for his city is reflected in his lifelong commitment to protecting its cultural legacy.
- Challenge
- The hardest part of this design activity is balancing respect for the historical building while introducing new elements that bring fresh life to the community. Preserving the heritage structure's integrity is crucial, but so is creating spaces that resonate with contemporary needs. It requires a thoughtful approach to ensure that the new design enhances the original architecture's legacy while fostering a vibrant connection between the site and the local community.
- Realization and Technology
- For the production and realization of the design, steel construction was used to achieve the lightness and structural efficiency required for the new volumes. The use of steel allowed for open, flexible spaces while maintaining a delicate connection to the original building. Additionally, the curvy shapes introduced in the design bring a sense of softness, contrasting with the rigidity of the existing architecture and enhancing the overall fluidity of the project.
- Operation and Interaction
- The design concept centers on harmonizing the old and new through thoughtful interventions that emphasize continuity while celebrating change. As a first step, structures that do not belong to the original design era are removed, allowing the spirit of restoration to flourish and refocus attention on the heritage architecture. Additionally, existing brick walls are replaced with glass blocks, preserving the rhythm of the original facade while introducing a modern, translucent aesthetic that softens the building's appearance and invites natural light into the interior.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project is a conceptual one and located in Ohrid, North Macedonia
- Specifications
- The original building has a footprint of 300 sqm with a total gross area of 600 sqm. Our addition introduces a new footprint of 300 sqm, creating a balanced extension to the existing structure. The project also features a large canopy that covers 3,000 sqm, providing both shelter and a unifying architectural element that ties the old and new volumes together, while enhancing the overall spatial experience and interaction with the surroundings.
- Keywords
- Renovation, architectural design, modernism
