Challenges

© CreatAR (Ai Qing, Mao Yinchen)

Architects: Wutopia Lab

Location: Shanghai, China

Architect In Charge: Ting YU

Photographs: CreatAR (Ai Qing, Mao Yinchen)

© CreatAR (Ai Qing, Mao Yinchen)

ChallengesIn this project, the architect was facing two challenges.  First of all, he needed to bring up the video company?s nature within very low budget. Second, the historic building was a former residence of a KMT General, which cannot be changed easily.

© CreatAR (Ai Qing, Mao Yinchen)

According to the local regulation, the illegal structures around General?s former residence built before a certain point are allowed to exist in silent acquiescence. But it is not allowed to build more, and once these illegal structures were removed, new buildings are not allowed to replace them.
© CreatAR (Ai Qing, Mao Yinchen)

StrategiesThe architect ignored different material and building time, painting all parts of illegal structures in black, including canopy. Black unified the differences in detail, made allocated units become background of the main building and highlighted the main building. The historical expression of the site was divided into two parts, the white parts are official history while the black parts are the unofficial history. Same design philosophy was applied on the yard, old bricks we...