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16
AUG2013
by Alison Furuto
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Courtesy
of Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
Located in the core area of Kunming Chenggong New C.B.D, the main challenge for the design of the
Southwest International Ethnic Culture and Art Center was to integrate the local cultures plus various
functional programs into one contemporary yet harmonious form. Designed by team members Wang
Wensheng, Damian Donze and Sidney Gong of theTongji Architectural Design and Research
Institute, their winning proposal takes on an abstract path to integrate the local cultures. More images
and architects description after the break.
Courtesy of
Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
The Culture Department of Yunnan Province has conceived the Southwest International Ethnic Culture
and Art Center as a multi-functional international cultural exchange place in order to increase the
protection of the national cultural heritage, to strengthen the cultural relics, to take full advantage of the
rich cultural resources of Yunnan Province, and to deepen cultural exchange and cooperation with
Southeast Asia. The project is 6-stories/36m high, and has a floor area of about 35,000 square meters.
Courtesy of
Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
In the preliminary analysis, we extracted two main aspects for the building to focus on. First, the different
local cultural identities with their traditional dresses, dances and songs. Second, the Hani rice terraces
together with the local subtropical plant diversity.
Courtesy of
Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
The method for the manifestations of cultural identity was an important issue for us. Many cases show
that a growing number of new cultural buildings try to directly imitate traditional buildings or even objects.
Generally speaking, these new buildings build with new construction methods and new materials cant
successfully portray the original. Hence, we decided to refrain from that method in order to take on a more
abstract path which is more fitting to todays situation.
Courtesy of
Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
The footprint of the building was simply derived from the building site while the interior got divided into
four, round parts that were cut by the building outline. This dialog between the outside and the interior
creates a rich spatial effect. The contour of each segment enlarges towards the top, in a cone-like
manner, to the point where they finally intersects. The resulting public atrium is illuminated by a number of
skylights that let the sun shine in. Though the four segments could function individually, they are
interconnected with many pedestrian bridges to ensure the possibility of free movement throughout the
building.
Courtesy of
Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
For the facade, we tried to implement the local cultures in an abstract way. It is made up of alternating
perforated and non-perforated metal panels that cover and protect the building, yet let sunlight enter and
lets people see outside. At each entrance, however, the facade opens up, much like a theater curtain, and
creates the entrance situations. The facade acts like a dress for the building, and in its own way, takes
reference from the local minorities. Even more so at night when the LEDs of the facade create a colorful
play, almost as if the building was dancing its own dance.
Kunming, having a mild climate all year around, is an ideal location to create an extensive landscape
design. Our focus didnt stop at the site itself, though; we gave special attention to the roof. Taking
reference from the surrounding subtropical nature and the Hani terraces, we created a green roof garden.
Most of the roof is laid out like a small park and is reserved for the offices on the top floors. Right in the
middle of the garden, however, there is a great exterior amphitheater with 1000 seats that can host big
cultural events.
masterplan.
Image Courtesy of Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
The underground contains mechanical rooms and an underground parking garage with 169 parking lots.
The first floor of the building is mostly open to the public and accommodates national culture and art
displays, heritage protection spaces and a cafe. From here the building gets divided up into four parts: the
exhibition center in the North, the art academy in the East, the theater in the South and the art studios in
the West.
underground
floor plan. Image Courtesy of Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute
Art Academy:
The lower floors contain an art school/education center while the top three floors contain volunteer offices
and accommodation for the aforementioned school.