Articles by Collin Chen
Tower of Bricks / Interval Architects
Place and history
The project began with an abandoned Hoffman brick kiln. The site of the kiln was located between Hengshui wetland park and the city proper of Hengshui. It was formerly a place where factories nearby used to drain their sewage water onto. As the only building on wetland, the brick kiln was highly recognizable with its chimney. However the Hoffman kiln was gradually abandoned due to the national policy that banned the burning of bricks out of clay as an environmental protection measure. The building condition declined to a collapsing condition eventually. With the new governmental plan to convert the wetland into a botanic park, the project called for the design of a botanic art center on the site. We decided that the memory and history of the old kiln has to be recalled and remembered with the new architecture. We hope to connect the past and the present of the place with the project.
Taiwan IVF Group / TCT Research & Design
The building uses silent language to reflect its own vibe. Designing of a medical facility, is mostly dominated by its complex functions, thus is easy to neglect the “in-between” relationship of people & building, environment & building. In the process of creating this IVF center, we ponder the possible elements which connects the “in-between”, to transform into the spatial language and to further reflect it.
Premier Ledu City Building No.1 / SUD Architectes
I. Background
1. Development background
Through the Songjiang District Technology and Innovation Corridor, Songjiang condenses industrial demand, enhances regional functions, accelerates the upgrading and transformation of the industry, and fully drives the transformation of ‘Songjiang Manufacturing’ to ‘Songjiang Creation’. At the same time, Shanghai Electric Group, Songjiang City Investment, and the Premier Group joined forces to innovate and take the opportunity to create renaissance of the Songjiang city.
R&D Headquarters, TOYO Electric / JJP Architects & Planners
The project is located in Huiyang District with great location and ease of transportation. The client’s business is on manufacturing and exporting of Christmas lighting products, with total exporting value ranks among the top 100 in Shenzhen areas. In completion, the facility is expecting to facilitate local economic growth and becoming the leader of the light industry in southern China.
Corner 60’s / Soar Design Studio
This is a renewal project bearing the aesthetics of the old Taiwanese era, in the form of a corner building in a quiet community. We did our best in preserving the old tiles, fine stone finishing and window grille that have marked the era this building has been through.
Jiangnan No. 1 Courtyard Life Experience Hall / gad
If the design is telling a kind of wisdom, a certain quality or a feeling about beauty, then culture is the train of thought hidden in the design method. In the traditional concept, oriental architecture advocates the implicit quality and avoids the direct expression. In the design concept of Jiangnan No.1 Courtyard Life Experience Hall, we respond to the spirit characteristics of the traditional Jiangnan courtyard with modern language.
HEMU Headquarters / Yiduan Shanghai Interior Design
HEMU Headquarters is situated at Jiading District, Shanghai. The original building was built in the 1960s or 1970s, with a yard. As an annexe of Huilongtan Park which boasts a history of over 400 years, the building features a two-storey structure of bricks and timber, gray bricks and tiles with green moss on the surface as well as lots of archways. The yard is surrounded by century-old trees, echoing with jingling bells of Yingkui Mountain nearby. It’s a fantastic place where people can enjoy birds’ twitter, fragrance of flowers and a fantastic view of lush trees.
East Campus of Ningbo Xiaoshi High School / United Design Group
A campus is full of experience and the sense of place. The unforgettable leaning life in this campus will go with students and teachers’ lifetime, and give them memories, courage and strength in many times. From this, we have designed “vitality hill” and “the circle of knowledge” which could be the core of campus. It will assume a hundred years of effective educational ideals and cultural heritage, but also the new era of innovation and exploration of the future education model.
Linxia Olympic Sports Center Stadium / DUST design
Located in the core area of Linxia Planned New Town, Linxia Olympic Sports Center Stadium covers an area of 41,134 square meters with a total construction area of 28,452 square meters. The building is composed of auditorium and international standard stadium. It is a large-scale sports facility with large and medium-sized sports competitions and training as its main function, taking into account the functions of leisure, fitness and entertainment of the citizens, with a total seating capacity of 20,410. The project has been completed and has become one of the landmark cultural facilities in Linxia.