Each city is given unique character by its history. Unfortunately in China most cities are losing their features after reconstruction and taking on almost the same image. It is imperative for urban real estate developers to retain cultural heritage of the city through balanced and appropriate design solutions.
Waterfrom Design is committed to sinuous shapes and volumes that barely cover the ground for its new Mall Project in the Hanyang district of Wuhan.

​Old and new co-existing under curve-shaped roof
 
Situated at the intersection of Yangtze River and Han River, Hanyang district of Wuhan is endowed with dynamic beauty of water. The adjacent Guiyuan Temple, a treasure for Buddhist since Qing Dynasty, renders tranquilness and solemnity in the community. Through drawing inspirations from the local culture and the Buddhist architecture, Waterfrom Design created a “sloping rooftop” for the new building, which seems to fly above the land and well integrate with the local context.
 
Poetically framed in a landscape painting
 
Black and gray steel bars form the spine of the rooftop, stretching and undulating like rolling mountains. Combined with the wide pool on the ground, a visual image of landscape painting is in sight. Transparent glass curtain wall interacts with reflections of clouds and lights in the water, creating a fascinating view and bringing spiritual peace of “A breeze produces no ripples”.
 
Extending space rhythm along the curved lines
 
The curves of the facade are also utilized in the spatial arrangement. Take the design at the entrance for example. Its curved circulation line borrows the form of Moon Lake, a famous local scenic spot. The slope is gradually lowered, creating a ceremonial sense for people, and leaving disturbing noises outside. Besides, in the large-scale open space, the curved ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows outline a natural frame. In VIP area, the two curved 3D walls look like sculptures, enriching the space with artistic beauty.
 
Capturing familiar experience in daily life
 
The partition wall wholly pied up by tea bricks records the past glory of tea trading in old Hanyang City during Northern Song Dynasty. The tea utensils made from local pottery are simple and rough, showing Hanyang people’s habit of drinking tea up to now. The flavor of tea reminds us to cherish the common experience in our everyday life.   
 
The new building exists as a landmark that blends into the urban fabric. Combining deconstruction skill with oriental imagery, Waterfrom Design achieved a balance between historical community protection and commercial real estate development.
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Architectural Concept Design
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Waterfrom Design
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Architectural Design
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Tianhua Architectural Design Co., Ltd
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Interior Design
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Waterfrom Design / Create+Think Studio
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Interior Design Team
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Nic Lee, Arthur Ho, Zhuwei Ge
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Client
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Sino-Ocean Land
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Category
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Sales center, reception center
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Area
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2860 m²
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Dates
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Design Period.- 03.18-05.18 Construction Period.- 05.18-08.18
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Material
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Weathering steel, terrazzo, silver travertine, serpenggiante, veneer
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Venue
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Wuhan, China
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Waterfrom Design. Established in 2008, straddles both the interior design and the architecture field, believing that design should be like water, simple and pure, organic and ever-changing, retaining the simple, neatness of water’s essence, and displaying possibilities without framework in concept.

They strive to give attention to the story and context of the space and time, to create spaces that canconvey messages, and let emotions settle and mature. In recent years, Waterfrom Design has received the Golden Pin Award, Asia Pacific Interior Design Award, Taiwan Interior Design Award, and their work has been reported by the Italian, Dutch, French, Korean and other international media. 

Nic Lee. The design director of Waterfrom Design, Nic Lee, has been in designs for over a decade, and his work mixes extreme simplicity with humor. He graduated from the Pratt Institute, New York with a Master of Science in interior design, as well as having participated in Denmark's International Study Program.

Throughout his education and career, Nic hasmelded thinking from the arts, humanities, and philosophy, possessing the logical thinking of architecture and design, as well as the rebellious nature of artists. He likes to be the exception outside the norm, to redefine the current order, and to find the unexpected within the unpredictable inaccuracies. He has received the Golden Pin design award for two consecutive years (2010-11), and was one of the top 10 designers for the Taiwan Interior Design Award (2007-2010). He excels in the use of installation art in spaces, and loves to find his inspirations from life, getting the most out of copious amount of reading, exposure to artworks and exhibitions, and turning the profound feelings thus gained into sparks of design inspirations.
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Published on: October 15, 2018
Cite: "SINO-OCEAN. Oriental World View Sales Center: a curved building that embraces landscape by Waterfrom Design " METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/sino-ocean-oriental-world-view-sales-center-a-curved-building-embraces-landscape-waterfrom-design> ISSN 1139-6415
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