The reconstruction project of the Guangzhou Wuyang residential building by TEAM-BLDG Architects brings a new textural layer to the cityscape along with improved living conditions. The building is located in downtown Guangzhou, which is a high-density area populated by a large number of young office workers. The area is viewed as being in urgent need of upgrades to improve the quality of the community and the living environment.
This particular residential building is located on a bustling urban road near the area’s main markets. The owner hopes that through the transformation of the façade any impression of the area being old and dirty will be replaced with the image of a quality apartment living brand.
The project aims not only to improve the external appearance of the apartment building but also to improve living comfort and allow for better use of public space for community interaction.
The façade, forming an interface with the city, was seen as an important link by the design team in maintaining cohesion within the community. Façade reconstruction was thus a key demand. To being with, the architects studied a punching method that can be applied to aluminium plate.
After numerous mockups, they selected a wavy punching aluminium plate to wrap the façade. This semi-transparent covering layer is a light-filled addition that adds a layer of texture to the cityscape and as the architects say, reduces ‘the weight’ of the original building’s appearance.
Internally, the central courtyard was cleaned to sort out air conditioning and tidy up the chaotic arrangement of various lines and pipes to ensure the courtyard’s openness and comfort. Inside, materials meet the criteria of low-cost but high quality. The architects primarily selected prefabricated materials such as terrazzo floor tiles and dry hanging metal sheets.
