Tongzhou SINLOON Canal Creative District
Restrictions and great opportunities – opening a 30 years old compound in Tongzhou CBD. The project is based in North gate, Tongzhou. Tongzhou is a typically urbanized, yet low-density area with suburban texture, this area not only has a complex social system but also has a unique, independent natural atmosphere surrounding it. Our base formerly known as Fimet Metal Fabrication is located at this geographical point that it looks out across the river from the Tongzhou Canal CBD. But our bases are less accessible, submerged in a residential area.
Photography by © Zhi Xia
The owner gave us only two design principles. Firstly, due to the restrictions of the property rights, all building renovations had to follow the outline of the original old building and no changes in location were allowed. Secondly, the site needs to be transformed into a high-end and unique office park. Apart from these two clear design principles, the rest of the design was left to us. This gave us a great deal of design freedom to create the miniature ‘Puro City’ that we wanted to create. City Bridge – an important core to open the public of the park. The new office park cannot remove the walls and gates. If we can regard the park as an intermediate area from the residential area to the riverbank, rather than an independent site, then it can be better identified as an integral part of the city, thus mending the urban fabric.
Photography b...