Changchun International Experts’ Residences

Light Field, E.LIT

• Architects

The Changchun International Experts Community is situated within the “Talent Industrial Park” of Changchun’s Automobile Economic & Technological Development Zone. It is directly bordering the huge “Automobile Park”, a green area as core of the city district, with a multitude of recreation and sports facilities. Furthermore, the iconic Automobile Museum and Volkswagen & Audi R&D Center are located close by to the north of the site, and the FAW-Volkswagen factory is equally not far away.

photo_credit Light Field, E.LIT — Light Field, E.LIT

The proximity to the Automobile Park creates a privileged location with picturesque surroundings. This particular situation elevates the project as a new residential landmark for gathering international talents in the auto industry, with hopes of being established as a new community model with international characteristics.

Almost 600 apartments were planned and designed in a land area of around 83,000 square meters. The planning adopts a low-density approach with a high greenery rate to create a park-like delightful living environment. The south part of the property features mainly four to six-storied apartments for foreign experts, while the northern area consists of seven to eight-story residential buildings that will be open to the market.

From south to north, the landscape of the community is designed to encourage social encounters and living together. It considers and includes all generations as part of every residential compound, and it builds spaces that combine their activities and interests to see them enjoy and grow together. The design is based on the linear arrangement of the buildings, and distributed in themed gardens and courtyards.

The commercial building situated in the southeast corner of the property integrates the community's club and offers a variety of support functions such as a supermarket, restaurant, cafe, bookstore, beauty salon, and more. The community’s club space is accessible through a sunken plaza equipped with patio furniture, sculptures, and manicured greenery.

The architecture showcases a simple classical style, mediating between modernity and tradition, perfectly combining a somehow German solid and timeless style with a modern urban flavor. Over a simple and elegant stone base material, metal inlays and profiles highlight the building’s outlines and structure in order to compose harmonious and intricate facades. Locally sourced materials, such as plywood and high-pressure resin plates are also used as accent elements to add warmth to the façade. Air conditioning units are dissimulated within the building moldings, solving a technical issue with elegant decoration.

The building's interior space design prioritizes comfort and practicality. Each apartment is conditioned with a private naturally-lit landing, an entry hall, an open kitchen integrated with living and dining room areas, a spacious balcony or roof terrace, a master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, and a changing amount of multi-functional rooms that can be used both as bedrooms or activity spaces. Within, every detail is thoughtfully crafted to meet the varying accommodation needs of the foreign experts’ families and create a private and comfortable living environment.