China

Xiangchun (toona sinensis) holds a unique significance in the lives of people in Shandong, China, symbolizing nostalgia and regional culture. Often rain-grown, its seeds drift with the wind. Due of their intense spring aroma, it becomes a key ingredient for "tasting the spring." In the valley of Zibo City, Shandong, four Xiangchun seeds once took root and grew beside a solitary rock, eventually transforming into four large trees encircling the rock. They witness the natural succession and have become symbols carrying local memory and emotion, forming the core and narrative starting point for the "Circle Pit" installation. Studio Clash Studio Clash "Circle Pit" was created for spontaneous activities. Its name draws inspiration fro... More

Block Kindergarten is located east of Hongqi Road and north of Zhenchuan Road in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province. The campus occupies approximately 1.01 hectares with a total floor area of about 9,012 square meters and is planned as a 21-class kindergarten. The site is surrounded by a complex urban context. High-rise residential towers stand to the north, with additional housing planned to the east. To the south lie several municipal facilities, including a 110kV substation, a waste transfer station, and an emergency medical center. These conditions present both spatial and psychological challenges: tall residential buildings create a sense of enclosure, while the municipal infrastructure introduces visual and environmental disturbance. Wen S... More

Beijing DJX Design, led by creative director Wang Bing, completed the new interior design for Zhonghong Wyndham Grand Hotel in Chengdu. This 27,000-square-meter space redefines the conventional luxury hotel model, weaving the cultural DNA of Chengdu into every architectural detail. As an innovative project, the hotel aimed to create a replicable new standard for high-end hospitality rooted in authentic urban identity. The design draws on the "linpan" forest farmstead culture and the city’s unique geography as its spiritual core, with the rhythm of light, material, and narrative as its contextual thread. The lobby, with its serene solidity and soft golden lighting, acts as a threshold between daily life and a new realm of calm. Cap... More

Robyn Ningbo stands at the convergence of Jiangnan heritage and Western influence—an intersection that has cultivated a distinct "Haipai" aesthetic over the past century. Today, the city's historic alleyways and domestic traditions are being reimagined for a new era.   HOTEL+ Hotel-style Clubhouse Robyn The design philosophy posits that truly exceptional spaces offer a sense of ceremony without being ostentatious. Robyn Robyn Robyn Approaching the Life Experience Center with a hospitality mindset, we have redefined the rhythm of the user journey. From the unfolding circulation and rich, warm textures to the curated Haipai atmosphere, every detail conveys a refinement that feels effortless. Robyn... More

The project tackles a current social issue within the urbanization process in China: the increasing urban-rural disparity. Currently the living conditions in large part of rural China are poor, for instance in Dongziguan Village in Fuyang Hangzhou, most of the farmers still live in the aged housings of disrepair. Local Government in Fuyang District of Hangzhou decided to fund an exemplary affordable housing project in Dongziguan Village aiming at improving living condition for relocalized farmers. gad During the design process, architects conducted investigations and meetings to communicate with different families of the relocalized farmers for first-hand information including their living habits. This award-winning project seeks to o... More

AIM Architecture and MORE Architecture offer bold antidote to repetition and large scale Jiaxing Island, a mixed use building designed by Shanghai-based Dutch architecture firms AIM Architecture and MORE Architecture, challenges the traditional notions of urbanization in China. By literally placing public space in the center of their project, the architects created a truly people-oriented architecture. Dirk Weiblen Dirk Weiblen Dirk Weiblen On the fringe of quickly urbanizing Jiaxing, a 1 million inhabitant city between Shanghai and Hangzhou, this complex finds itself in a ferociously dynamic context – where the countryside has been replaced by industrial zones and residential compounds in less than a decade. This rad... More

What does Li Bai, lyrical poet from the Tang Dynasty, architectural brutalism, and a modern-day cosmetics store in a shopping mall have in common? Allow us to introduce the newest HARMAY store, in the heart of Chengdu, where journey and discovery meet the future of shopping.  Dirk Weiblen Dirk Weiblen Dirk Weiblen Li Bai, famed poet of the Tang Dynasty, wrote in the poem “The Hard Road to Shu”, the stairs to heaven are easier to climb than the road to Sichuan. With Chinese e-tailer HARMAY’s fourth brick and mortar location in Chengdu, Sichuan, AIM Architecture has bridged the gaps between the power of a journey, and the beauty of discovery.  AIM’s HARMAY playbook always involves an element... More

The Power of porcelain Set in phase 2 of Taoxichuan, the Art & Tourism development in the heart of Jingdezhen, the project celebrates all things ceramic in a one-of-a-kind hotel, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Wen Studio The project, named “The Road of a Fascination,” is a story of a journey: Like the long and fascinating life of porcelain, a journey toward the unknown, the unexpected, an urge to find the truth, and all the encounters in between.  Wen Studio With this in mind, the physical spaces are divided by themes that feature the porcelain journey from China’s origin, eventually spread and influence in the broader world, and return to its native home. The different spaces are the origin (Lobby)... More

Preface In recent years, a slogan can often be seen on the road out of Beijing: “Spend your weekends in beautiful Hebei”. With the construction of rail transit and highway networks, a number of towns in Hebei have become new destinations offering weekend leisure travel for residents of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. Liu Jing In this context, “Unico” was born. The project is located in Fangjialiang Village, Chicheng County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, about 35 kilometers from Chongli High Speed Rail Station. After a 3-hour drive from Beijing through a series of tunnels and winding mountain roads, enjoying the beautiful countryside along the way, visitors will reach this quiet village surrounded by farmland a... More

TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON belongs to a new generation of hotels that cultivates a communal sense of belonging and social dynamics.  Embracing Hong Kong West Kowloon’s unique location as the nexus of cargo terminals and now of arts and culture, TOWNPLACE WEST KOWLOON is a dynamic meeting port for people from different parts of the world. Steven Ko Steven Ko Commissioned by Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong-based LAAB Architects designed the social spaces, hundreds of suites, and co-curated an art collection featuring Hong Kong artists to create a socially engaging and culturally rich experience. The brief challenged LAAB to design social spaces that create a sense of inclusivity for people with different personalities an... More

The idea of "environmental protection" was born not on a whim, but as a result of deep thinking in the face of resource depletion. Most commercial spaces are a compound of various resource consumption. We wanted to use more eco-friendly materials to reduce consumption and make the space more aesthetic. Through this active use of common fundamental materials, reducing construction period, rather than ending up as a lifespan of previous environmentally burdensome products, the aim is to innovate with a spatial design that is characterized by new assembling method. Ruijing Photo/okamoto deguchi design Ruijing Photo/okamoto deguchi design The concept of the coffee brand BARISTAR is to set the stage for baristas to be the leading acto... More

hcreates worked in conjunction with the legendary three Michelin-starred chef Paul Pairet and his team to create the latest concept in IFC, Roodoodoo. Located in the heart of Shanghai financial district, this building is a central focal point in Lujiazui for businesspeople, shoppers and tourists alike. The concept is a true all-day experience that transitions from breakfast to evening and bringing together dishes from Paul Pairet’s iconic restaurants Polux, Charbon, Mr & Mrs Bund whilst introducing many new instant classics including their first full bakery. hcreates interior design hcreates interior design “When it comes to defining the interiors for Roodoodoo’s we call it Retro Sleek – inspired by th... More