Zhongjiao Tianjun Sales Office

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Near the mountainous landscape of Jizhou, one of the northernmost districts of Tianjin in China, the designer has reinterpreted ancient Chinese folklore and fables into immersive installations and sculptures placed within a real estate exhibition space.

Dimensions & Packaging

An interactive mechanical art installation, dubbed Future Paddle, adorns the pitched ceiling of the lobby in the negotiation area. Resembling the skeletal form of a monster swimming the depths of an ocean, this element draws from mythical Chinese creatures called Kun-Peng, often depicted as massive hybrids of birds and fish, that are able to interchange between the capabilities of both classes of organisms. Suspended from the ceiling by means of wires, the device-consisting of ribbed, transparent elements-ebbs and weaves above the rows of seating in the lobby.

Tags

Classic of Mountains and Seas , Sales-office, Serendipper, Lei Dong, Tianjing

Production Technology

All furniture is custom designed, other main materials are solid wood, stone, metal, resin. A wall installation within the space replicates the texture of rocks piled up along the edge of the sea, highlighting the design scheme's adroit combination of material qualities. On the other hand, a separate wall installation within a more enclosed seating space echoes the rhythmic overlapping of fish scales, to create a strong visual focal point for the zone it decorates. To one side of the negotiation area is a micro-landscape installation consisting of a small table, decorated with wheat to represent the harvest. On the wall behind it is a textured 3D-relief which emulates the mountainous terrain of Jizhou, serving as a tribute to Yu the Great's fabled taming of the floods.

Design Challenge

An interactive mechanical art installation, dubbed Future Paddle, adorns the pitched ceiling of the lobby in the negotiation area. Resembling the skeletal form of a monster swimming the depths of an ocean, this element draws from mythical Chinese creatures called Kun-Peng, often depicted as massive hybrids of birds and fish, that are able to interchange between the capabilities of both classes of organisms. Suspended from the ceiling by means of wires, the device-consisting of ribbed, transparent elements-ebbs and weaves above the rows of seating in the lobby. The mechanical interactive art device, Future Paddle was among the most challenging aspects of the project, both in the early design stages and later on during its installation and debugging, the exact duration for which this dynamic device alternates between running and staying still, is controlled as per the time set in the operating program.

Project Duration

The project started in March 2021 and finished in June 2021 in Tianjing, China

Operation Flow

There is a dynamic sculpture, titled the Blue Sea. Inspired by the story of Jingwei-a shipwrecked girl who was transformed into a bird upon her demise, the experimental artwork combines a bench featuring a gradient of blue and white hues, with a parabolic mass of twigs and pebbles erupting from one of its edges. As per the legend, Jingwei despised the Eastern Sea-the site of the shipwreck-to such an extent that the brave little bird decided to fill it up by carrying twigs and pebbles towards it each day. This tale has since become the source of the Chinese idiom Jingwei tries to fill the sea-an expression of unyielding determination in the face of insurmountable odds. The polished marble floor around the sculpture serves as a representation of the sea, with the reflections on its surface completing the visual narrative.

Research

The practice of dredging holds special reverence in China, dating back to the 3rd Millennium BCE with the legend of Emperor Yu the Great. Founder of the Xia Dynasty, Yu is said to be the first ruler to implement systems of flood control in the country. Hence, by means of their mythologically-themed intervention, Serendipper Design attempted to infuse a calming ambience into the space, using soft, earthy tones and custom furniture design to reflect an eastern sensibility and sense of historical reverence in the interior design. Organised around a square courtyard, the exhibition space's main program areas comprise an enterprise exhibition hall, a negotiation area, a sand table exhibition area, and an activity space for children.

Inspiration

The practice of dredging holds special reverence in China, dating back to the 3rd Millennium BCE with the legend of Emperor Yu the Great. Yu is said to be the first ruler to implement systems of flood control in the country. By means of the mythologically-themed intervention, we attempted to infuse a calming ambience into the space, using soft, earthy tones and custom furniture design to reflect an eastern sensibility and sense of historical reverence in the interior design.

Image Credits

Photos by Sean

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