Thriving Gevelrenovatie, Entreepoort by Shimu Wang

Thriving Gevelrenovatie, Entreepoort by Shimu Wang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in IJzer in Architectuur, Gebouwen en Constructieontwerp Competition Category.

IJzerArchitectuur· 2026

Thriving Gevelrenovatie, Entreepoort

by Shimu Wang

A' Design Award in IJzer Winner in Architectuur Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Thriving Gevelrenovatie, Entreepoort

Thriving is een gevelrenovatie van twee onderwijsgebouwen en een nieuwe schoolpoort in Taiyuan, China. Aluminium panelen afgewerkt met heldere lak geven ritme aan de gevels en verbergen buitenapparatuur en kabels. De poort is 14,7 meter hoog en verbindt de twee gebouwen van verschillende hoogtes, waarbij het zicht op het hoofdgebouw van de campus wordt omkaderd. Panelen van spiegelend roestvrij staal bekleden de stalen hoofdconstructie, terwijl slanke kolommen van roestvrijstalen buizen met zilverkleurige lak de visuele massa verminderen. Het gespiegelde plafond doet de poort hoger lijken en suggereert groei.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in IJzer

Thriving Gevelrenovatie, Entreepoort is winnaar van de A' Design Award in IJzer, een prestigieuze erkenning die wordt toegekend aan goede ontwerpen die voldoen aan de professionele en industriële eisen die worden verwacht van goed ontworpen creaties. Winnaars in IJzer tonen grote vaardigheid, hoge specialisatie, deskundig inzicht en het creatieve vermogen van hun makers. Thriving Gevelrenovatie, Entreepoort wordt verwacht een hooggewaardeerde, bewonderde en gekoesterde creatie te zijn die praktisch en innovatief is. Dit ontwerp dat de A' Design Award in IJzer heeft gewonnen, integreert de beste praktijken uit de sector en heeft bekwame technische kenmerken die verbonden zijn met knowhow en talent. Thriving Gevelrenovatie, Entreepoort wordt gerespecteerd om zijn grondigheid en is ontworpen om verbeteringen van de levenskwaliteit te bieden die helpen de wereld een betere plek te maken.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Aluminum panels finished with bright-colored paint are used for facade detailing, which enhance the rhythm of the elevation and conceal the messy equipment and cables at the same time. Besides, the gate organically connects the two buildings of different heights. This gate also becomes a view frame for the main campus building. Design adopts the imagery of 'growth', conveying the wish that students will take root and thrive in their future careers , just like seeds reaching for the sky.
Dimensions & Packaging: Renovated Facade Area: 9581 square meters.
The New Gate: Width 22m x Depth 9.8m x Height 14.7m.
Tags: Modest renovation, Coherence, Rhythm, Vibrant colors, Lightness, Airy, Futuristic aesthetic
Production Technology: Standing at 14.7 meters high, the gate was required to be majestic yet airy. To ensure the gate is visually lightweight, mirror stainless steel panels are chose to clad the main steel structure. The decorative, slender columns surrounding the main steel structure are made of stainless steel pipes finished with silver fluorocarbon paint, further dissolving the visual mass of structure. The mirrored soffit makes the gate appear taller when viewed from below, enhancing the dynamic sense of growth.
Design Challenge: One of the key challenges in the design process was sorting out and rearranging the layout of outdoor equipment. The design had to comprehensively consider the locations of equipment-connected interior rooms, the dimensions of different equipment, drainage routes, and cable positions, lending the building a rhythmic, orderly, and harmonious facade.
Research: This renovation was required to be restrained and frugal. We spent a huge amount of effort to organically unify the individual buildings and use harmonious with variations design language to create visual consistency.
Inspiration: This project contains a facade renovation of two teaching buildings over twenty years old and a construction of a new gate. The buildings front the street and the gate stands between them. The client expected to transform their outdated appearance into vibrant, neat and energetic style. The new school gate should be majestic and futuristic. To meet these requirements, the design revolves around bright colors and a lightweight, airy visual effect.
Project Duration: Design Period: April to June, 2025
Finished time: October 2025
Location: Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
Operation Flow: The automatic doors are installed between the main structural columns and the decorative columns. When opened, they are well concealed within the forest of columns, and when closed, they match the decorative columns well in color. Landscaping at the foot of the slender columns, adds a touch of vitality to the otherwise slightly cold structure. As pedestrians and vehicles traverse the gateway, the experience evokes the sensation of passing through a miniature forest.
Image Credits: Image #1, #2, #3, #4, #5: Photographer Weiqi Jin, Thriving, 2025.