We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Hang Chen about their original and creative Culture Street design work. Hang Chen is an award-winning architectural designer, that makes our world a better place with their original culture street works.
Hang Chen ("HC") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Artisan Echoes Culture Street. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
HC : The project is based on the needs of both tourists visiting the Purple Pottery Industrial Park and nearby residents. The layered terrain, the unique technique of producing pottery, and the traditional Chinese architectural style are the inspirations for the design. The layout of the buildings is based on the natural terrain, and the traditional Chinese architectural style is used to express the production scenes of pottery, creating a cultural and creative district rooted in the local area.
HC : The design aims to refine the local architectural style, respect the original topography of the plateau, and create a unique Chinese architectural style by incorporating buildings in a scattered layout that blends in with the plateau landscape. At the same time, incorporating leisure, shopping, and entertainment functions to enhance the quality of the block, the goal is to create a flagship characteristic block that leads the way in fashionable living and provides high-end cultural experiences.
HC : It is used by Jianshui County Government in China.
HC : Tourists and local residents.
HC : When people pass by this place from the peripheral road, they can first see the architecture following the terrain layout, with a rich and diverse spatial hierarchy, and a vibrant cultural and creative block. When approaching for observation, they will find that the architectural image is derived from the abstract refinement of the dragon kiln, folk kiln in the ceramic production facilities and Chinese local architectural style. The buildings are prioritized and offer various lifestyle functions such as sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment.
HC : Research Background: The construction demand of the creative district in the Purple Pottery Industry Park. Method: The development trend of the industry park, the needs of the user groups, and the characteristics of the site elements were extracted and integrated into the design, creating a unique district shared by tourists and residents rooted in this area. Tools: Urban planning and architectural design. Participants: Hang Chen, the government of Jianshui County. Results and Insights: It has become a new urban landmark in Jianshui County, Yunnan Province, China.
HC : The main challenge faced by the project was to convince the group of people who hold the belief that flattening the site's natural terrain for ease of construction is necessary, to adopt the values of respecting natural landforms and refining architectural styles based on the characteristics of purple pottery production facilities. The design respected the original topography of the site and arranged the buildings in a staggered layout according to the original elevation levels, integrating the buildings with the terrain and creating a unique streetscape that harmoniously blends with the local landscape. The purple pottery production facilities were also modernized with the use of professional techniques such as digitalization, parameterization, and prefabrication to meet the construction needs of the project, resulting in the creation of a distinctive street block deeply rooted in the local context.
