Xintai Warehouse
Industrial heritage in a new light
LOCATION
Shanghai, China
SIZE
6,000 sqm
DATE COMPLETED
2016
PHOTOGRAPHER
Dirk Weiblen
Xintai warehouse, an early 20 Century British facility for the storage of textiles, is located on the North bank of the Suzhou Creek. Its large scale, 6000m2, and its remarkable state of conservation had it listed as a protected building, important testimony of what once was the vibrating industrial heart of the colonial Shanghai.
Xintai warehouse, an early 20 Century British facility for the storage of textiles, is located on the North bank of the Suzhou Creek. Its large scale, 6000m2, and its remarkable state of conservation had it listed as a protected building, important testimony of what once was the vibrating industrial heart of the colonial Shanghai.
The architectural renovation, first phase of a process that will soon include the design of all common areas and part of the private interiors, was devised as a careful mix of rigorous conservation and innovative solutions.
The architectural renovation, first phase of a process that will soon include the design of all common areas and part of the private interiors, was devised as a careful mix of rigorous conservation and innovative solutions.
In order to survive the dramatic transformations the Suzhou Creek area is undergoing in the recent years, the building had to be repurposed to new functions, technologically upgraded, transformed into a flexible cultural hub and readapted to a context radically different from the one it originally related to.
In order to survive the dramatic transformations the Suzhou Creek area is undergoing in the recent years, the building had to be repurposed to new functions, technologically upgraded, transformed into a flexible cultural hub and readapted to a context radically different from the one it originally related to.
The internal circulation was redesigned around the main atrium, covered by a shimmering glass roof. The light steel-structure balcony, cantilevering from the old brick facade, spirals around the void, connecting the entrance to the upper floors.
The internal circulation was redesigned around the main atrium, covered by a shimmering glass roof. The light steel-structure balcony, cantilevering from the old brick facade, spirals around the void, connecting the entrance to the upper floors.
In the two glazed atriums past and present come together, both claiming their rights to expression. The two languages complement each others in a coherent and balanced whole.
In the two glazed atriums past and present come together, both claiming their rights to expression. The two languages complement each others in a coherent and balanced whole.
The original textures of the building resurfaced though a process of survey, cleaning, removal of non original additions, reconstruction of damaged or lost parts, always reversible and distinguishable from the original.
The original textures of the building resurfaced though a process of survey, cleaning, removal of non original additions, reconstruction of damaged or lost parts, always reversible and distinguishable from the original.
Xintai warehouse, an early 20 Century British facility for the storage of textiles, is located on the North bank of the Suzhou Creek. Its large scale, 6000m2, and its remarkable state of conservation had it listed as a protected building, important testimony of what once was the vibrating industrial heart of the colonial Shanghai.
The architectural renovation, first phase of a process that will soon include the design of all common areas and part of the private interiors, was devised as a careful mix of rigorous conservation and innovative solutions.
In order to survive the dramatic transformations the Suzhou Creek area is undergoing in the recent years, the building had to be repurposed to new functions, technologically upgraded, transformed into a flexible cultural hub and readapted to a context radically different from the one it originally related to.
The internal circulation was redesigned around the main atrium, covered by a shimmering glass roof. The light steel-structure balcony, cantilevering from the old brick facade, spirals around the void, connecting the entrance to the upper floors.
In the two glazed atriums past and present come together, both claiming their rights to expression. The two languages complement each others in a coherent and balanced whole.
The original textures of the building resurfaced though a process of survey, cleaning, removal of non original additions, reconstruction of damaged or lost parts, always reversible and distinguishable from the original.
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