Shui Cultural Center 文化中心 by West-line Studio - Haobo Wei and Jingsong Xie

Shui Cultural Center 文化中心 by West-line Studio - Haobo Wei and Jingsong Xie is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2018 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 建築、樓宇及結構設計 Competition Category.

銀建築· 2018

Shui Cultural Center 文化中心

by West-line Studio - Haobo Wei and Jingsong Xie

Client: West-line Studio

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 建築 Category

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Colors

The Design

About Shui Cultural Center 文化中心

水文化中心位於中國貴州省南部，是通往水族聚居地三都縣的門戶。西線工作室設計這座建築的目的是將水族的儀式元素和氛圍變成一個公共空間。一層薄薄的青銅表皮與厚重的混凝土結構形成對比，打破陽光，在進入室內後產生戲劇性的效果。遊客經過開闊的水域廣場後，文化中心呈現出一連串的三個空間，這些空間以傾斜的屋頂為特色，讓人聯想到水族的山象形文字。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

Shui Cultural Center 文化中心是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主，這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品，展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計Shui Cultural Center 文化中心將成為一件出色的典範之作，兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明，造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。Shui Cultural Center 文化中心是一件令人羨慕的創作，它喚起渴望，帶來積極的情感，並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Located in the Southern Guizhou Province, Shui Cultural Center is a gateway to Sandu County, the land of the Shui. It includes three main stripes, combining all the functions of the tourist-cultural center. With its iconic and distinct shape, it stands as an homage to the local culture and traditional architecture. The Shui culture is evoked using particular materials and shapes and recreating a ritual space, able to lead visitors into Shui’s ancestral world.
Dimensions & Packaging: Area surface: 13,808.04 sqm
Building surface: 4,223.59 sqm
Building max height: 23 m
Tower height: 30 m
Tags: China, Guizhou Province, West-line studio, Cultural Center, Shui Minority, Concrete Architecture, Chinese Architecture, Pitched Roof, Concrete, Bronze
Production Technology: 1. Fair-faced Concrete: strongly marked by a wooden pattern, given by the pine quarterdecks
2. Copper Steel Plates: twelve industrial processes recreate the peculiar texture of the bronze used in Shui minority’s ancient rituals
3. Colorful Transparent Glass: Shui Characters, mainly used during ceremonies and sacrifices, are printed on colored glasses, filtering the light and evoking a ritual atmosphere
Design Challenge: The main challenge has been to turn those typical and ritual elements of Shui minority’s culture, together with the whole scenario they used to create during Bronze Age traditional rites, into a contemporary public space.
Research: The project focuses and researches on these main aspects:
1. Regional Connection: local peak-cluster landform
2. Public Life: contemporary public life model of Shui minority group in China
3. Ritual Atmosphere: bronze drums and altars used in Shui’s sacrifices
4. Lighting Atmosphere: filter Shui’s unique pictograms
5. Construction: handcrafted + industrial materials
Inspiration: The Cultural Center is inspired by Shui minority sacrificial rites, where bronze drums and altars are regarded as symbols of power. The architecture also evokes Shui unique pictograms. From the outside, with its water square, it stands as an open memorial place. While inside visitors are immerged into an introverted ritual atmosphere.
Project Duration: Design: June 2016 - October 2016
Location: Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
Construction: October 2016 - November 2017
Location: Sandu County, Guizhou Province, China
Operation Flow: The building guides visitors step by step into Shui’s ritual world. Starting from the open water memorial square, behind which the building shines with its bronze perforated skin which remembers sacrificial altars. To the interiors strongly characterized by the sharp pitched roof, which aims to recreate an intimate dramatic atmosphere.
Patents: Copyrights belong to West-line Studio, 2017.
Team Members: - Design: Haobo Wei, Jingsong Xie
- Architecture and Landscape: Yudan Luo
- Site Construction Control: Haobo Wei, Minghua Ou
- Interior Design: Martina Muratori
- Structure: Yuanping Li, Xiaoqiang Yang
- Equipment: Hongbo Shi
- Research: Lanyu Xu, Danjing Zhong, Zhili Yin, Jing Shi, Yulan Xu
- Graphic: Martina Muratori, Jinda Zheng
Image Credits: Photo: Jingsong Xie, Jinda Zheng