DU Studio Founder Ms. Ping Zhu was invited to speak at OBJEKT Sino-Dutch Creative Forum 2022 organized by Objekt Magazine and The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Shanghai on December 8th at Xiao Hui Wang Art Museum. Ms. Zhu gave a speech on the topic “Rebuild sense of place” and shared her designs of office headquarters and commercial renovations.

Recap the speech:

Sense of Place, Latin genius loci.The ancient Romans believed that all independent individuals, including people / objects / places, had their lifelong guardians; and these guardians also determined the unique personality of each individual with their own spirit and character.

 

The modern concept of "spirit of place" was proposed by the famous Norwegian architect Christian Norberg-Schulz in 1979. When a space contains social, historical and cultural significance together with human activities, the overall temperament goes beyond the building itself and calls for people's spiritual "identity" and "belonging".

In the past a few decades due to the rapid city developments where large building volumes are built to meet the function requirements, somehow lacking some cultural atmosphere.  Communities, offices and commercial projects become homogenized without distinct features, as a result these places can not attract the new generation citizens. As Norberg-schulz said “ men, hobos, are wandering”, they might get lost in the space.

Renovation projects shall create certain sense of belonging no matter how big or small they are. It is up to the designer’s willingness in exploring, keeping, creating or giving each space its own spirit. We interior architect always design for human needs, we study the policies, economies, planning, architecture, interior, operations etc within different cities and cultural context, we have to dig deep in order to search for the sense of place, the sense of belonging, and design to speed up the renovation process.  

Most of the renovation projects we designed are working space and commercial centers for different corporations. For instance the world’s NO.1 bus manufacturer  Yutong bus headquarters’ transformation, Hangzhou Tower’s HZT Salon for luxury haute couture guests, Shanghai Arch Walk commercial complex transformation, etc, we always analyze the target crowds’ psychological demands and activity preference, combining with the client’s goal, researching the future trend and cultural background at each project location, in order to elevate the space, upgrade the activities and find its own spirit.

 

HTZ Salon is dedicated for the Haute Couture customers siting on the 4th floor of Hangzhou Tower’s Building B. The renovation is inspired by the traditional scroll in Chinese painting, as the scroll unfolds customers are welcomed by the beauty from the East in a understated manner while the Haute Couture houses from the West are open and ready, a dialogue between East and West starts.

 

 

Arch Walk renovation is to continue the city garden concept, hoping to boost the energy within and lead the trends especially for the young groups. (Under construction)

before renovation：

Renderings

Shanghai Arch Walk, ground floor’s shop facade faces the street, blurring boundary with the neighborhood.

 

Yutong Bus Headquarter renovation, we designed to inject more energy and vibrancy into the work place that helps building a greater world leading brand in bus manufacturing.

before renovation：

after renovation

 

 

For China Enterprise Building’s public spaces, our interior design responds to the urban surroundings and continue addressing the restrained and minimal quality as the exterior, monolithic and sophisticated.

 

 

Proswim Academy, open, free, happy, the new generation’s social spirit. It is a swimming pool, and it is beyond a swimming pool. It has become a community gathering venue, popular hotspot that attracts many brands and celebrities to visit.

 before renovation

after renovation

 

 

The sense of place is closely linked with the Zeitgeist. The urban renewal is also redefining and reshaping the Zeitgeist. The inclusiveness, openness, sustainability, efficiency, and cultural confidence required by this era are also reflected in the design of our projects. We hope to work together with more designers, governments, investors and entrepreneurs, together we reshape the sense of place, build a better life in this urban rejuvenation process and find our unique voice.

 

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