(Not So) Heavy Metal
Vanke Co., Ltd, Emerald City Exhibition Hall
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Tianjin, China | 35,500 sf
A contemporary twist on the historic European arcade
The Emerald Avenue Exhibition Hall conveys—in a single building—the aesthetic of a new urban development in Tianjin, China’s popular tourist destination whose buildings boast British and European influences. The building’s columns and arches—reminiscent of those found in western historic arcades—are given a modern twist through a system of hanging aluminum panels.
Up close, individual aluminum panels almost seem to disappear, creating a sense of lightness.
From a distance, those same slats look more solid. How you experience the building changes depending on where you are.
The panels are spaced close together at the top of each column and further apart at the bottom to convey a sense of solidity when viewed from a distance.
The panels are spaced close together at the top of each column and further apart at the bottom to convey a sense of solidity when viewed from a distance. As you approach the hall, that visual density unexpectedly gives way to lightness as the panels seem to disappear.
From a distance, the panels create a sense of solidity.
A mere 5mm thick, each numbered panel (over 1200 in all) was hung using a beam and cable system that keeps them fixed in place yet allows individual panels to be removed for cleaning or repair. Curved edges create a sense of volume and amplify their reflective surface.
Detail of the arching facade