Articles by Collin Chen

Wisdom Olion Nursery is transformed from a long factory building. The client asks for many classrooms, but the budget offered is tight. Another challenging thing here is to provide enough surface for kids to have outdoor activities. How to have classrooms as many as possible without losing their quality? How to define an outside space for the activities? We start to develop the project by taking both the two questions that seem not related.

Project overview
First built during the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi period in Chengdu, China, Kuanzhai Alley mainly consists of three northwest-southeast streets, which are connected by lots of small alleys in a crisscrossed pattern. During the early stage of the Republic of China period, among the three main streets, the wider street was named “Kuan Alley” (Wide Alley), the narrower street was named “Zhai Alley” (Narrow Alley), and the one with a well was named “Jing Alley” (Well Alley). This is how the Kuanzhai Alley got its name. As a historical and cultural landmark in Chengdu, Kuanzhai Alley is a renowned busy commercial and cultural area. While Jing Alley features relatively peaceful and tranquil atmosphere in the midst of noise and bustle because it has shops only on one side and a street wall on the other.

Ningyang Road of Qingdao City was one of the earliest developments during the German-occupation period (1898–1914). In 2020, Ningyang Road started a renovation project. By this chance, a local coffee brand “Largo” invited us to Ning Yang Road, renovating an old house in this historic district. The project’s site is located in a courtyard of a century-old German house (now has been listed heritage) on Ningyang Road. It consists of three rooms of different sizes, separating from the German-style main house built around the 1950s. The three rooms, totaling 40 square meters, were all brick and timber construction.

Ningyang Road of Qingdao City was one of the earliest developments during the German-occupation period (1898–1914). In 2020, Ningyang Road started a renovation project. By this chance, a local coffee brand “Largo” invited us to Ning Yang Road, renovating an old house in this historic district. The project’s site is located in a courtyard of a century-old German house (now has been listed heritage) on Ningyang Road. It consists of three rooms of different sizes, separating from the German-style main house built around the 1950s. The three rooms, totaling 40 square meters, were all brick and timber construction.

Flowing Cloud Township Villa is located in Qinglongwu, an ancient village in Tonglu, and is part of the “Fangyukongxiangsu Cultural and Creative Complex”. In the future, various cultural activities will be held here all year round. In 2017, MDO was commissioned to renovate 6 existing village houses on the original site and transform them into guest houses. The concept of the design is to create a retreat outside the city, so that people can feel the history and material culture of Qinglongwu, and immerse themselves in the connection with nature.