Press Release
Hao Zhong and Yuchen Qiu Receives the Golden A' Design Award for Spira Silva Mixed Use in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
Hao Zhong and Yuchen Qiu recognized 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 21, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Spira Silva Mixed Use by Hao Zhong and Yuchen Qiu has been granted the Golden A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category. The result belongs to the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Golden A' Design Award
The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.
About Spira Silva Mixed Use
The Spira Silva, in Williamsburg's redeveloped waterfront, envisions a vibrant, eco conscious future by integrating nature with urbanism. Unlike traditional timber buildings, the project utilizes twisted CLT panels for both aesthetics and efficiency. Interior spaces vary across floors, offering flexible configurations and adaptable layouts. The Spira Silva challenges conventional skyscraper design, fostering a welcoming atmosphere and promoting sustainable urban living.
About Hao Zhong and Yuchen Qiu
Hao Zhong is New York City-based architect with a diverse portfolio encompassing commercial, educational, residential, and healthcare projects. Committed to crafting thoughtful and impactful spaces, he approaches design with a fresh perspective, blending creativity with technical expertise. His work has been recognized in prestigious domestic and international competitions, highlighting his dedication to innovation and design excellence.
Award Record
This recognition makes Hao Zhong and Yuchen Qiu 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/170530
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/170530
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!170530
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/355140
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
- Spira Silva Mixed Use
- Function
- Mixed Use
- Category
- Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture
- Colors
- Silver, Dark Gray, Dark Olive Green, Dim Gray and Dark Slate Gray
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Hao Zhong and Yuchen Qiu
- Country
- United States of America
- Recognition
- Golden A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #170530
Credits
- Team
- Hao Zhong, Yuchen Qiu
- Image Credits
- Hao Zhong, Yuchen Qiu
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Unlike traditional timber buildings, the project utilizes twisted CLT panels as its primary structure members, creating a dynamic architectural language while maintaining structural efficiency. Tthe interior spaces vary across floors, offering open layouts, enclosed areas, and adaptable configurations for different functions. The design fosters warmth, vitality, and a sense of belonging to occupants.
- Inspiration
- Several years ago, the designers had the opportunity to visit a timber factory in Spokane, where they became deeply intrigued by the potential of timber construction. While timber structures are rare in New York, timber high-rises are even more so. They sought to challenge this norm by envisioning something entirely innovative, pushing CLT construction beyond traditional stacking methods. Their goal was to create expressive, sustainable, and unconventional high-rises, fostering a connection to nature, akin to living within a giant tree.
- Research
- The designers came across a project uses CLT panels with varying moisture levels to self-shape into twisted forms, reducing energy use and material waste while enabling complex, sustainable designs. They see this potential in pushing CLT construction beyond conventional stacking methods, allowing for the creation of expressive, sustainable and unconventional high-rises, which can foster warmth, vitality, and a sense of belonging for occupants.
- Challenge
- The deisgners utilized paramatric design tool and structural anaylsis tool to evaluate the structural feasibilty and efficiency of our design iterations. Daylight analysis tool is used to adjust twisting effect of building elements.
- Realization and Technology
- The project integrates innovative CLT construction with advanced digital modeling techniques. The twisting structure is achieved by programming the CLT panels to create dynamic forms that balance both aesthetic and structural efficiency. The use of parametric design tools enabled the creation of complex, fluid geometries, while sustainable materials were prioritized to reduce the carbon footprint.
- Operation and Interaction
- Spira Silva fosters dynamic interaction between occupants and space. Its twisted CLT structure creates flexible interior layouts, offering varying spatial experiences from open to enclosed areas. The design encourages natural light and airflow through strategically placed apertures, enhancing occupant comfort. Adaptive spaces support diverse activities, from collaborative work to private retreats. The building's sustainability and versatility improve occupant well-being and energy efficiency, delivering a more engaging urban environment.
- Project Duration and Location
- This design started in 2023. The building is situated in the waterfront district of Williamsburg, right adjacent to Domino Park and Williamsburg Bridge.
- Specifications
- typical CLT wall panel: 12'-6" x 14'-0" x 1'-0 3/8" typical glulam column: 1'-6" x 1'-0" typical CLT floor panel: 14'-0" x 24'-0" x 1'-0 3/8" wood-look metal panel: 4'-0" x 12'-0" x 0'-2"
- Keywords
- twisted CLT construction, innovative structure, sustainable high-rise, dynamic spatial design, urban timber, eco-conscious design, iconic landmark
