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.
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.
Designed by Marina Miot, a Brazilian architect from Rio Grande do Sul, the restoration project of an original industrial pavilion from the 1940s in the city of Caxias do Sul was conceived to house Wentz’s new headquarters.
The pre-existing architecture was preserved and the building’s original walls and frontages maintained. In the internal space, large white volumes and glass walls were created for better division, fluidity and full use of natural light, crossing the limits between external and internal, reducing excesses and connecting the space to the contemporary essence of the brand – silent, natural, simple and casual.
Luxurious Waterfront Living at Marina Gate Towers by Aedas
Project: The Residences at Marina Gate Location: Dubai, U.A.E. Client: Select Group Design Architect: Aedas Gross Floor Area: 210,000 sq m Completion Year: 2020
Designed in 2015, The Residences at Marina Gate project is a prestigious residential development that comprises three high-rise towers, two residential and one hotel serviced apartments managed by Jumeirah Group International, all offering stunning views of the Marina and the Arabian Gulf.
It is located at the world’s largest artificial marina – Dubai Marina, which is a vibrant tourist hub and a dynamic neighbourhood with many unique residential towers. The Marina is a bustling waterfront community with a mix of residential, commercial, and entertainment options.
Facing the Arabian Gulf and the Marina, The Residences at Marina Gate enjoys one of the best views within Dubai Marina. The project offers a variety of living options to its residents, including studios, 1-5 bedroom apartments, serviced apartments, penthouses and over 30 villas. The three towers range from 52 to 64 storeys that stand above a cluster of an 8-level podium with retail at lower levels.
The inspiration for the design comes from the sleek and modern aesthetic of Dubai, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. The architects aimed to create a sense of openness and connection with the environment, while also ensuring a high level of privacy and exclusivity for the residents.
Render Reality Blending into the urban context The silhouette blends in with the urban context, while the materials and lighting create a warm and inviting atmosphere that complements the surrounding landscape. The complex was designed to meet international
standards, using advanced glass, steel, and concrete forms, to give a modern and sophisticated look that reflects the beauty of Dubai while incorporating the natural environment. Villas are stacked in a staggered manner to reinforce its linkage with the main tower, formulating one composition. While the height of the podium was utilised to achieve the required parking count.
Standing tall in the heart of a tourist destination Podium Section Plan The 3 towers are connected through passages within an 8-level terraced podium. This podium was designed to serve as a convenient walkway while incorporating commercial elements for residents. With 50 retail outlets, a supermarket, salons, a gym, and sports facilities, the podium promotes healthy living and creates social spaces. Its design optimises waterfront usage by placing retail and villa units at an ideal angle, maximising views and accessibility.
The Residences at Marina Gate, designed in 2015, is a prestigious residential development in Dubai Marina. With three high-rise towers offering stunning views, the project seamlessly blends sleek design with the natural landscape. The interconnected terraced podium enhances convenience and waterfront usage. Each tower boasts luxurious amenities, making it a symbol of luxury living in the vibrant Marina community.
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. www.aedas.com
The Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium will unveil its newly renovated and expanded building to the public on June 8, 2023, following a transformative $41 million building project.
An undertaking that included the relocation of their existing Insectarium from its previous home in the Customs House on Canal Street and the expansion and renovation of the Aquarium itself—two vital community offerings housed for the first time under one roof—the project represents Audubon’s first major renovation for the Aquarium since opening in 1990.
Images Courtesy of EskewDumezRipple/CambridgeSeven
Along with this new program, the scope included a crystalline-configured entry identifying the relocated main entry lobby and ticketing area, a new lobby grand stair and glass bridge, re-envisioning of the existing Mississippi River Gallery into a bayou experience, a refreshed Amazon Exhibit Gallery, introduction of a new Top-of-Gulf tank experience, two new gift shops, and the reversal of the exhibit flow experience throughout the aquarium exhibit spaces.
Images Courtesy of EskewDumezRipple/CambridgeSeven
The City of Vilnius has issued the building permit for Business Stadium Central designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. Integrated within the Vilnius City Plan and the popular public square adjacent to the site, Business Stadium Central will be a new gathering place for the city.
Consisting of two low-rise towers of 8 and 9 storeys connected at street level by a courtyard atrium and two floors of public amenities, the centre’s 24,000 sq. m design also connects its two towers via a skybridge at level five. The curvature of the centre’s facades and its cantilevered balconies face towards the historic Gediminas Castle Tower in the heart of the city.
Fuqiang elementary school is designed to support new ways of learning to feed Shenzhen’s growing thirst for creative talent and innovation to feed its rapidly expanding economy.
To inspire curiosity and passion for exploration the school is designed around the idea of ‘hybrid space’. Space takes on the role of the ‘third teacher’ and functions as an integral part of student’s education. Different programs and activities are juxtaposed together in three dimensions to offer new connections across different levels. For example standard classrooms, special classrooms, and the athletic field are adjacent to one another to support cross-disciplinary interaction. Students in the library on the first floor can look down into performances in the theater and activities in the gym in the basement level.
This week the doors of the Jonas’ residential building opened in Amsterdam. Jonas’ is a remarkable building, located beside the port of IJburg, containing 273 apartments and a range of public and shared amenities. Forming a sustainable and inviting heart for the neighbourhood, the building enhances social cohesion in the still relatively new urban district. In addition, Jonas’ has achieved the highest attainable sustainability rating: BREEAM Outstanding. This is a unique achievement for a residential building in the Netherlands.
Situated in the Nanyou district in central Nanshan area, the Zhongtai Residential Development consists of a 5-storey podium and above it a 33-storey residential building providing 238 units. On account of the site’s lack of pleasant greenery, the design’s primary objective is to inject vitality and improve the urban interface.
‘The premise is to create an urban oasis, so the project will be a locus of calm and respite in the fast-growing city,’ explains Cary Lau, Aedas Global Design Principal.
The DESMAN (Hangzhou) Headquarters is located in the Binjiang IoT (Internet of Things) Town, a cradle for high-tech industries in Zhejiang, Hangzhou. Covered with advanced transport network and infrastructure, top-notch enterprises have also set up their headquarters in the area to enjoy the collaborative environment and aggregation of talents.
Aedas designs a world-class headquarters for DESMAN in the high-tech zone. The headquarters connects the major public green axis, overlooking the Smart Gate to the north and the landscape park to the south.
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