Office building 40 Spring Gardens is located at the heart of Manchester’s central business district and forms part of the Aviva Manchester Hub, a group of five linked city centre properties developed by Aviva Investors. SpaceInvader was part of the team tasked with transforming these properties over recent years, ensuring they offer tenants the very best in contemporary design and workplace thinking. The newly-completed 40 Spring Gardens refurbishment follows previous collaborations between SpaceInvader and Aviva at 201 Deansgate and 11 York Street.
Project Title: 40 Spring Gardens Company: SpaceInvader Location: Manchester Status: Completed 2023 Sector: Commercial Client: Aviva Investors (more…)
Known as the Temazcal Room, this newly developed amenity space, located off the main lobby of the Bay Area Metro Center in downtown San Francisco, provides a flexible, light-filled venue designed for a wide range of uses to support office tenants working above. The buildout is one of multiple interior development projects designed by TEF within the building, including the top four floors, as part of the award-winning transformation of the c.1942 former post office, into a shared headquarters for the Bay Area’s most progressive government agencies a few years prior.
TEF Design team
Principal In Charge – Paul Cooper Consulting Principal – Bobbie Fisch Designer – Samantha Rose, Rachel Hammond, Paul Leoffler
Project Team Architecture and Interiors: TEF Design Contractor: Swinerton Mechanical and Electrical Engineer: MHC Engineers Structural: Holmes Lighting: Silverman & Light Acoustical, AV/Telecom, Security Engineer: Salter Foodservices: Webb Foodservice Design Client: Bay Area Headquarters Authority Photography : Mikiko Kikuyama
Bir Land in Hangzhou | A Relaxing Commercial Scene for Micro-vacations
Bir Land, located in Liangzhu cultural village, Hangzhou, is an artistic commercial complex designed for micro-vacations. As the final piece of the commercial puzzle, it not only meets the increasing daily consumption demands of the villagers, enhancing the attractiveness and convenience of the residential area, but also serves as a artistic destination with its own unique spirit.Continuously attracting visitors from the Yangtze River Delta with high-quality cultural, artistic, and design content, Bir Land appeals to a group of micro-vacationers who have long admired the lifestyle represented by Liangzhu.
Project Name: Vanke Liangzhu Bir Land
Project Location: Liangzhu Cultural Village, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, China
Project Area: 68934㎡
Proprietor: Vanke, Hangzhou
Design Time: 2022.11
Open Time: 2023.5
Commercial Scene Design: Fun Connection (www.funconn.com)
Bir Land Architectural Design: Zhejiang Qingmo Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
The Tiffany & Co. store in Singapore’s Changi Airport has opened with a sustainable façade designed by MVRDV. Located in the airport’s Piazza Garden, near to the Moshe Safdie-designed Jewel Changi, the store features a one-of-a-kind façade that highlights the House’s commitment to sustainability. It features a coral-inspired screen, 3D printed using recycled plastic thanks to the assistance of Amsterdam-based company Aectual and Milan-based engineers BUROMILAN.
Designed to seamlessly blend business and leisure, luxury and lifestyle, One Za’abeel is the new mixed-use complex of Ithra Dubai LLC and covers an area of 530,000 sqm. Located in the heart of the city and close to the International Financial Centre, it is designed by Nikken Sekkei, a prestigious Japanese architecture, engineering and urban planning studio.
Architect: Nikken Sekkei
Design: Fiandre Architectural Surfaces
Project: One Za’abeel complex
Location: Dubai , UAE
Property Owner: Ithra Dubai LLC
Chief Architect and Consultant: Stefan Krummeck
GFA: 530,000 sqm.
Photo: One Za’abeel, photo courtesy of Fiandre Architectural Surfaces
The Norodom Business Tower is a mixed-use tower located in Phnom Penh City, Cambodia. The project is designed to be a Grade-A office with a 5-star hotel, offering more than 10,000 sq m of office space and 226 keys for the hotel, with amenities like function areas, restaurants, a rooftop bar, a rooftop pool, a gym, and a spa.
Project: Norodom Business Tower Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Client: TP Moral Construction & Development Co., Ltd.
Project: Wyndham Soleil Da Nang Location: Da Nang, Vietnam
Client: PPC An Thinh Vietnam Investment and Infrastructure Development JSC Design
Architect: Aedas
GFA:340,000 sq m
Completion Year: 2023
Wyndham Soleil Da Nang is a mixed-use development with a Gross Floor Area of 340,000 sq m located in Da Nang, Vietnam. The development is situated beside Bai Tam Pham Beach and offers an unobstructed picturesque sea view.
An iconic Beacon by the Sea
Strategically located adjacent to the arterial road of Vo Ngyuen Giap and Pham Van Dong, the project site enjoys good accessibility, being 6 km from the Da Nang city centre and having an approximate 20-minute travel ti me to Da Nang Airport.
Site Plan
View of Wyndham Soleil Da Nang by the shore Podium from street level
The Masterplan includes 3 residential towers and 1 hotel tower in an iconic design within a lush resort-style podium roof garden. The outdoor green area accommodates many amenities such as bridge clubhouses, lounges, swimming pools, gym, and children’s playgrounds, all seamlessly integrated with the overall design. A rooftop F&B with infinity pools complete the 4 towers, creating iconic beacons by the sea.
Retail podium of wyndham Soleil Da Nang
The tower design adopts an organic approach, replacing straight lines with curves and bends reminiscent of a living creature residing seaside – the undulating fac;:ade echoes the form of sea coral. The dynamic fac;:ade elements not only aim to create an iconic beacon along the East Vietnam Sea but also allow for the incorporation of outdoor living rooms and loggias, creating a seamless and immersive living experience by the sea. Sky-bridges are designed at intermediate levels linking one residential tower to another, appointed with residential facilities, and providing vantage points for residents to enjoy the magnificent sea view of Da Nang.
Aerial view of Wyndham Soleil Da Nang
The North and South elevations of the residential towers feature pre-finished aluminium decorative fac;:ade louvre shutter systems, providing functional shade for residents. When opened in various degrees, the aluminium shutters create a lively fac;:ade through its intricate interplay with sunlight that changes throughout the day.
About Aedas
Aedas is the world’s only local and global architecture and design practice driven by global sharing of research, local knowledge and international practice. Our 1,100 creative minds with design studios across the globe create world-class design solutions with deep social and cultural understanding of the communities we design for. We create world-class design solutions that are tailored to the needs of cities and communities around the world.
Project: Wuhan Film Production Studio Plot D and Plot E
(Residential and Commercial)
Design Scheme Location: Wuhan, China
Client: Wuhan Urban Construction Group Design and Project Architect: Aedas and gad
Gross Floor Area: Super high-rise tower and retail street – 228,948 sq m and Residential – 387,050 sq m Completion Year: On-going
Design Directors: Dr. Andy Wen, Global Design Principal; Yijun Qian, Executive Director
Wuhan is an ancient yet diverse city with a rich history and traditional culture. Aedas Global Design Principal Dr. Andy Wen and Executive Director Yijun Qian led the team to win the competition of Wuhan Film Production Studio Plot D and Plot E (Residential and Commercial) Design Scheme in the heart of city. Integrating the Wuhan landscape with cultural characteristics, the design is set to be a cultural-commercial hub filled with historical and functional features.
A future cultural-leisure destination in Wuhan
Located in the centre of Hanjiang district, the project is closely situated to the major roads and metro system, enjoying a convenient accessibility to link with other districts. Connected to the landscape view axis, the Cloud City has a spectecular view overlooking the surrounding landscape and Zhongshan Park to the East.
Site location
The overall Cloud City development is a mix of office, residential and commercial. The design promotes the integration of ‘sharing, connectivity and greenery’, to maximise the use of the L-shaped plot and to meet the urban planning requirements. To deliver an efficient commercial experience, the super high-rise tower that consists of office and hotel is placed near the metro entrance. Residences are allocated in the mid-levels, and the porous podium on the lower levels connects with other functions and irrigates the city with vibrancy. With the connectivity to the landscape axis, the skyline merges with the nature and landscape nearby.
Planning requirement of landscape view axis Planning concept Integrated design
Dr. Andy Wen shares, ‘Architecture needs to be multi-dimensional and integrated with features from different eras. Using our professional experience and creativity, we have adopted a micro-urbanism approach to create a timeless and people-centric development.’
The 250m super high-rise tower marks the highest point and urban icon within the district. The tower drew inspiration from the poetic Wuhan and authentic cultural symbol – having cranes flying in the clouds around towers. The slightly curved linear architectural form features a Chinese cornice-like crown on top, and a horizontal metal void in the middle of the façade. Glittering in the night, the crown mimics the energetic crane flying above the golden cloud. The building is cut asymmetrically and creates an interior collaborative space in the middle facing the park. Designed with simplicity and aesthetics, the tower also adopts efficient interior ventilation to ensure a comfortable environment.
Design concept of ‘Yellow Crane’ tower
250m super high-rise building The crown is designed in a form of Chinese traditonal cornices
The clubhouse at the crown enjoys an unobstructed cityscape view
The office, headquarters and 5-star hotel are respectively placed in the convenient low, middle and high zones, enjoying the city and landscape view; the headquarters is designed at the serene high zone. The vertical program arranges the communal collaborative space in between the functions, creating interspersed
interactive spaces including rooftop garden, sky lobby and wellness amenities. The openness, complemented with various circulations and entrances, creates a new spatial experience to connect live-work and socialising areas.
Design concept (shown in GIF) Vertical program arrangement
The podium adopts a L-shape layout, stacked by various blocks and linked by golden fins echoing the motion of Wuhan lake city. The podium includes a multi-dimensional garden, metro sunken plaza, individual flagship blocks and themed plaza. A vibrant shopping experience is created through diverse retail nodes and a multi- dimensional wandering pavement.
Spatial arrangement along the retail circulation Stacking fins through the podium façade
The corridor on the podium connects the functions and merges with the urban fabric and the retail street. The underground retail street links the metro and the surrounding developments to the north. The multi-layered circulation ensures a convenient metro and interconnected pedestrian system.
High line landscape corridor Underground metro system
Corridor seamlessly linking to the surrounding plots
‘Architecture is a powerful medium that resonates with the urban context. The design aims to break the conventional layout of tower and podium, creating a porous and interconnected development which merges with locality.’ Yijun Qian said.
*This is a competition scheme and does not represent the final design.
About Aedas
Aedas is the world’s only local and global architecture and design practice driven by global sharing of research, local knowledge and international practice. Our 1,100 creative minds with design studios across the globe create world-class design solutions with deep social and cultural understanding of the communities we design for. We create world-class design solutions that are tailored to the needs of cities and communities around the world.
In the international competition for the Huaxia Bank Headquarters in the Beijing MC district, von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects (gmp) emerged as winners. The office complex is sustainably designed in compliance with the LEED Platinum Standard, China Green Building Label (CGBL) 3 Stars, and WELL Platinum. Following the completion of the Asia Financial Center & AIIB Headquarters in 2019, the new head office of the Huaxia Bank represents another prestigious bank headquarters in Beijing based on a design by gmp.
Huaxia Bank, Peking Studie, Gutachten – 1. Preis Entwurf: Meinhard von Gerkan und Stephan Schütz mit Stephan Rewolle Projektmanagement: LI Ling Projektleitung: SUI Jinying
The meandering structure with two high points contains three atriums and aligns itself with a central transverse axis. This axis connects the area to the urban space in the west and to the headquarters’ rambling, C-shaped park that borders the building on three sides. The three-story, symmetrical base interlinks all functions and enables their flexible and equitable arrangement. The volume stacked on top of the base on the east side creates an entrance portal for the ensemble and interconnects the areas to the north and south.
Huaxia Bank, Peking Studie, Gutachten – 1. Preis Entwurf: Meinhard von Gerkan und Stephan Schütz mit Stephan Rewolle Projektmanagement: LI Ling Projektleitung: SUI Jinying
Placed in a staggered, L-shaped arrangement, the 100-meter main tower to the north and the 50-meter tower to the west form a distinctive skyline, opening up the urban area towards the park in the southeast and towards the banks of the North Canal. The volumes are characterized by photovoltaic facades and roof surfaces. The regular facades of the meander are designed as climate-active, double-skin facades with integrated photovoltaic elements and ventilation inlets that can be opened manually. They are also provided with a projecting, vertical structure made of natural stone. The roof surfaces accommodate planted terraces suitable for a variety of activities. The three inner courtyards, two of which are glazed, supplement the shared meeting places for bank employees.
Huaxia Bank, Peking Studie, Gutachten – 1. Preis Entwurf: Meinhard von Gerkan und Stephan Schütz mit Stephan Rewolle Projektmanagement: LI Ling Projektleitung: SUI Jinying
Huaxia Bank, Peking
Studie, Gutachten – 1. Preis
Entwurf: Meinhard von Gerkan und Stephan Schütz mit Stephan Rewolle
Projektmanagement: LI Ling
Projektleitung: SUI Jinying
Huaxia Bank, Peking
Studie, Gutachten – 1. Preis
Huaxia Bank, Peking
Studie, Gutachten – 1. Preis
Huaxia Bank, Peking
Studie, Gutachten – 1. Preis
Entwurf: Meinhard von Gerkan und Stephan Schütz mit Stephan Rewolle
Projektmanagement: LI Ling
Projektleitung: SUI Jinying
What is the essence of portrait photography?
This has been a constant pondering for Dingji Photography over the past eleven years. With a focus on excellence and a pursuit of the highest standards, Dingji has established seven distinct professional portrait photography institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. Now, Dingji presents a new concept for its eighth establishment: a non-profit, dedicated space solely for exploring the art of portraiture.
“After hearing this concept from the founder of Dingji, as someone who has visited numerous art spaces, I was immediately moved. In a time filled with competition and uncertainty due to the pandemic (during the planning phase), Dingji persists in stubbornly ‘discussing art’—a practice that seems detached from commercial interests yet truly elevates the production of portrait photography to its utmost perfection. This is commendable,” expressed Luo Zhenhua from WIT Design.
However, the average customer expenditure is five to ten times higher than that of Dingji’s regular stores, and yet it continues to be widely loved.
01 Space
“The Portrait Steward in the Era of Cloud Computing”
However, is art really so distant from us?
It is well known that many of our country’s products have hardware that is on par with top Western brands, yet there is still a gap in terms of pricing. Perhaps what is lacking is a thorough understanding of art and design.
Speaking of portrait photography, during the years of my interaction with Dingji, I have never for a moment considered it to be just an ordinary photo studio. Dingji’s artistry is far from being exclusive to a select few. It has consistently and silently provided a photography service that withstands scrutiny, constantly pushing the boundaries of portrait art to its utmost perfection.
Within the exhibition hall’s corridors, a scene of mechanical aesthetics unfolds. It seems as if, in the fraction of a second captured by the mechanical shutter sound, guests are frozen and captured, while being processed and uploaded in real-time. Dingji’s artistic output is not akin to the portrait oil paintings of the 16th-century Renaissance, nor the slow development of images by cameras in the 19th century. Instead, it exists within a futuristic realm of silver and metallic textures, where capturing, storing, and online management are unrestricted by technology—never fading, never lost.
This eighth establishment, the Huanya Art Space, offers customers a glimpse into the future—a scenario where, in the era of cloud data, they not only serve as photographers for the guests but also act as their portrait stewards.
As the artistic portrait stewards, Dingji also provides large-scale interactive installations within the exhibition hall, showcasing the power of their advanced backend technologies.
If there were a “Heavenly Photo Studio,” it would most likely be curved in design.
The exhibition hall is curved in design—Architect Antoni Gaudí once said, “Straight lines belong to man, while curved lines belong to God.”
The exhibition hall will host regular photography exhibitions, with the aim of fostering the self-evolution of Dingji through the showcased works. Additionally, the art corridor is divided into sections by the shape of mechanical shutters, with each section documenting a story and scene captured by Dingji’s photography.
02 Value
Brand’s Autonomous Transformation
Portrait Consultant + Art Exploration + Homage to Future Imaging
Returning to the commercial space itself, after the pandemic, the project has gained a significant number of customers, achieving an average customer expenditure that is 5-10 times higher than that of its regular stores. This transformation has brought about a qualitative change in both the business and brand dimensions.
This is a contemporary imaging space that observes and explores the future, reaching people through intuitive design and receiving positive responses. Portrait photography is a combination of a portrait consultant, art exploration, and homage to future imaging within a service-oriented system.
03 Nature
“There was a touching story about a Dingji staff member that really moved me: A customer wanted to have their portrait taken during sunrise. When the customer arrived at the outdoor shooting location promptly at 6 a.m., the enthusiastic Dingji business team offered them tea, and the makeup team had already prepared all the necessary facilities outdoors. The photography team’s instructor, equipment, devices, and lighting were all perfectly set up in advance. The customer’s experience was further enhanced as they melted into the moment, accompanied by the warm rays of the rising sun.”
Returning to the commercial space itself, the project has consistently attracted a significant number of customers after the pandemic.
At that moment, it wasn’t just a groggy independent photographer welcoming the guests, but rather an entire professional business team working together systematically to pursue artistic outcomes. In the end, a series of personalized, custom-made artistic portraits with a sense of contemporary tension are produced.
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