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    Neri&Hu creates “urban oasis” for Artyzen New Bund 31 hotel in Shanghai

    Chinese studio Neri&Hu has completed a hotel in Shanghai alongside the New Bund Performing Arts Centre, which was also designed by the studio.

    Located in Pudong District, Artyzen New Bund 31 hotel forms part of a larger development called Qiantan, which includes an office tower and a shopping centre.
    The scalloped details on the entrance facade is to resonate with the arches used in the adjacent performing arts centreThe hotel, which is connected directly to the New Bund Performing Arts Centre, contains a total of 202 guest rooms is a tower above a podium.
    Alongside the entrance of the hotel on the ground floor, Neri&Hu created a scallop-shaped concrete facade to recall the arches of the performing arts centre.
    A large circular opening allows natural light into the ground floor lobbyGuests can go to the hotel reception on the fifth floor either directly from this gound ground floor entrance or via a lounge on the third floor that connects to performing arts centre.

    According to the Shanghai-based Neri&Hu, the hotel was conceived as having been carved from a single monolithic mass.
    The ground floor lobby features a large circular opening punctuating the ceiling, inviting natural light flooding into the otherwise enclosed space.
    The hotel is designed to be an “urban oasis”The firth floor, which is the top of the podium block, contains all the shared amenities including reception, lounges, restaurants, event spaces, and outdoor gardens.
    The facilities were placed in pavilions, which were arranged in a stone landscape that acts as a garden-like experience for guests.

    Neri&Hu captures “spirit of traditional alleyways” at Shanghai arts centre

    “The hotel is envisioned as an urban oasis that takes its guests on a journey of surprise and discovery,” said Neri&Hu.
    “With an abundance of outdoor landscape spaces, Artyzen Qiantan offers a rare experience in an urban hotel, a sense of respite and escape from the bustling city of Shanghai,” it continued.
    A series of pavilions containing facilities are located on the fifth floor. Photo by Branston Partnership IncThe colour palette for the guest rooms was informed by traditional Chinese gardens, mindful of the nature theme that is consistent throughout the hotel.
    Grey stone wraps the entry and bathroom of each room, while wooden bed frames bring a sense of warmth, with bronze metal details adding a touch of luxury. Custom furniture pieces by Neri&Hu create a sense of home and casualness for the guests.
    Guest rooms were designed to create a home-like experienceNeri&Hu was founded by architects Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu in Shanghai in 2006. Along with the New Bund Performing Arts Centre, the studio recently completed a residential block in Taiwan.
    The photography is by Pedro Pegenaute unless otherwise stated.
    Project credits:
    Partners-in-charge: Lyndon Neri, Rossana HuAssociate-in-charge: Akrawit Yanpaisan, Scott HsuDesign team: Aleksandra Duka, Peng Guo, Danyan Jin, Andy Chen, Qiucheng Li, Elan Tao Tessie Wan, Paz Ma, Echo Li, Dania Angela Flores, Ambesh Suthar, Kathy Hu, Bella Lin, Greg Wu, Becky Zhang, Nicolas Fardet, Yin Sheng, Lili Cheng, Junho Jeon, Luna Hong, Lyuqitiao Wang, Haiou Xin, July Huang, Yuqi ZhongConsultants:Architect: Palmer & Turner ConsultantsCurtain wall consultant: Shanghai Zhulian Construction Engineering Co.Structural consultant: ArupMEP consultant: China Team Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd. Shanghai BranchLandscape consultant: East China Architectural Design & Research InstituteConstruction PM: AECOMLDI: Shanghai Tianhua Architecture Planning & EngineeringAcoustic consultant: SMW (Shanghai) Business Consulting Co.Art consultant: Art Front Gallery (Shanghai) Co.Interior LDI: Shanghai Modern Architectural Decoration Environmental Design Research Institute Co.Interior lighting: Branston Partnership Inc.Kitchen consultant: CKP Kitchen Design Consultant Co.Signage consultant: Shanghai Saichi Logo Design Engineering Co.QS: ArcadisContractors:Contractor (GC): Shanghai Construction No.4(Group) Co.Curtain wall: Wuxi Hengshang Decoration Engineering Co.Hotel public area interior: Shanghai Construction Decoration (Group) Co.Hotel guest room interior: Shanghai Haihua Construction & Decoration Engineering Co.

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    Dezeen’s Global China exhibition spotlights cultural collaboration

    Models, sketches and photos of works by architects and designers including Neri&Hu, Büro Ole Scheeren, Paul Priestman and FOG Architecture feature in Dezeen’s Global China: Connecting The World Through Design exhibition in Shanghai.

    Taking place during the World Design Cities Conference (WDCC) in Shanghai last month, Global China: Connecting The World Through Design showcased work by both Chinese and international architects and designers that bridge east and western ideologies.
    The exhibition space is designed by FOG ArchitectureThe exhibition features the work of six architecture and design studios, which were selected by Dezeen to demonstrate the breadth and depth of interesting work being completed in China.
    Featuring models, sketches, photography and films, the exhibition aims to demonstrate how international collaboration and cultural exchange can foster innovation while showcasing China’s influence as a growing design power.
    FOG Architecture presented a model of To Summer flagship store in BeijingThe exhibition space, designed by FOG Architecture, featured a series of architecture models on a central table, with hanging graphic boards hanging from a curved rail for visitors to look through.

    Three models from Chinese architecture studio Neri&Hu occupied the centre of the table, including Waterhouse at South Bund, Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat and Nantou City Guesthouse, that focus on adaptive-reuse and historic preservation.
    Neri&Hu presented three of their most well-known projects”We believe that urban fabric and architectural memory should be preserved with a critical approach that exemplifies the zeitgeist within the specificity of context,” said the Shanghai-based studio.
    “Our built works show the possibility of creating unexpected spatial experiences in historic buildings, giving them new life.”
    The twisted Tencent Helix is one of Ole Scheeren’s highlighted projectsBüro Ole Scheeren also presented three models, the Axiom, Tencent Helix and Shenzhen Wave, that best represent the studio’s futuristic vision for China’s urban landscape.
    AIM Architecture created AIM City, a curated collection of the studio’s projects that form an experimental city concept for renewal and innovation.
    AIM Architecture created an utopia urban city focused on renewal and innovation”Every street and building are reimagined, offering unexpected moments and fresh possibilities, embodying our vision of continuous urban evolution,” said the studio.
    “Past, present, and future merge in a dynamic landscape of regeneration and sustainability.”
    Paul Priestman showcased his latest Viewpoint conceptBritish transport designer Priestman presented his latest work Viewpoint, a sightseeing ship where all passengers would have undisrupted views of cityscapes. Also on display are hydrogen powered locomotives concept Inter-Freight as well as his previous designs for China high-speed trains.
    Chinese furniture designer Min Chen presented a bench called A Piece of Wood, that used Chinese traditional kite frame made of bamboo with the shape informed by airplane wings. His work is known for its modern expression in traditional materials and craftsmanship.
    Min Chen presented a bench that utilises Chinese craftsmanshipFOG Architecture presented ToSummer Flagship in Beijing Guozijian, which was crowned Interior Project of the Year at Dezeen Awards China last year. Others on display are HCH Showroom for Shanghai Fashion Week and Cycle Cycle Portable Bakehouse, which was longlisted at this year’s Dezeen Awards.
    The photography is by Xiaobin Lyu.
    Global China: Connecting The World Through Design exhibition ran from 27 to 30 September on the third floor of Dingbo Building as part of World Design Cities Conference 2024. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
    Media partnership
     
    Dezeen curated the Global China: Connecting The World Through Design exhibition for WDCC as part of a media partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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    Various Associates creates irregular pyramid-shaped flagship store for DJI

    Chinese interior studio Various Associates has completed an irregular pyramid-shaped flagship store for drone brand DJI in Shenzhen, China.

    Located at OCT Harbour on the shores of Shenzhen Bay, the flagship store was designed to demonstrate the Chinese drone company’s latest technology.
    Various Associates designed the largest DJI flagship in ShenzhenThe 4000-square-metre store contains spaces for product display, a gallery, customer service area and an event space in four floors, in addition to a public park called DJI Oasis, which is used for drone flights.
    The multi-facated facade was clad in granite with large triangular windows on the angled surfaces facing the park, which is connected to the second floor via an outdoor, zigzagging staircase.
    A new staircase connecting all floors is inserted into the buildingGentle ramps in the park lead visitors into the store, while forming a series of triangular patterns, responding to the same geometric form of the architecture.

    To minimise the direct sun exposure from the glass facade, Various Associates inserted an “interior skin” of stainless steel louvres to the outer shell of the building.
    The second layer forms an origami shape on the ceiling that corresponds to the outer shape.

    Various Associates designs Voisin Organique restaurant to resemble a gloomy valley

    “We hope to solve the problems of site mobility and sun exposure through a holistic program, and simplify the visual complexity of the interior walls and window sills, while retaining the original geometric aesthetics of the site architecture,” explained the Shenzhen-based studio.
    “The newly added ‘interior skin’ filters the sunlight, casting unique daylight patterns throughout the day, creating a sense of outdoors.”
    Display tables and lightings are informed by DJI’s classic drones’ propeller bladesOn the ground floor, DJI’s drone products are displayed on custom-made tables in angled shape of the brand’s classic drones’ propeller blades.
    They are lit from above by lights, which are same shape, suspended from the ceiling.
    A gallery-like space on the third floor is used to exhibit photographyThe third floor of the building contains the Hasselblad Experience Station – a joint display area for DJI and Swedish camera and lenses brand Hasselblad.
    The gallery-like space with a darker tone contrasts the bright and airy product section downstairs, which is used for showcasing the photography created by DJI and Hasselblad.
    An event space on the top floor features a 15-meter-high ceilingThe building is topped with the 15-meter-high DJI Horizon Hall, which was designed as an event venue. According to the studio, the dramatic geometric space naturally draws visitors to look up upon entering, evoking the actions of watching a drone taking off.
    Various Associates is an architecture and interior design studio founded by Dongzi Yang and Qianyi Lin in 2017. Elsewhere in Shenzhen, the studio previously designed a cafe and cocktail bar that emulates a small cosy cabin.
    The photography is by SFAP.
    Project credits:
    Architect: Various AssociatesChief designers: Qianyi Lin, Dongzi YangProject management: Hanqun CaiDesign team: Yuwen Deng, Zebing Li, Benzhen Pan, Chao Luo, Junrui Zhang, Qian Xie, Yue ZhangLighting design: GD Lighting DesignMEP design: Tongji ArchitectsStructural design: Tongji ArchitectsContractor: HECIAN

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