Hanjie Wanda Sqare in Wuhan, China
Photo: © Edmon Leong

BEN VAN BERKEL / UNSTUDIO’S

Hanjie Wanda Square in Wuhan

Angela van der Burght

Hanjie Wanda Square, Wuhan, China, 2011 - 2013

Client: Wuhan Wanda East Lake Real State Co., Ltd
Location: ShaHu Ave., Wu Chang Qu, Wuhan, China
Building surface: Facade 30.500 sqm
Interior: 22.630 sqm
Programme: Luxury shopping mall
Contribution UNStudio: Facade and interior design
Credits UNStudio:
Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos, Astrid Piber with Ger Gijzen and Mo Lai, Konstantinos Chrysos, Ariane Stracke, Veronica Baraldi and Thomas van Bekhoven, Elisabeth Brauner, Rodrigo Cañizares, Luis Etchegorry, Albert Gnodde, Ka Shin Liu, Chiara Marchionni, Cynthia Markhoff, Tomas Mokry, Iris Pastor, Machiel Wafelbakker, Shuang Zhang, Jinming Feng, Xinyue Guo, Cheng Gong
Model making: Patrick Noome, Todd Ebeltoft, Ali Ashgar
Advisors
Funnel structure: Arup SHA
Facade: Arup SHA
Lighting facade: ag Licht, with LightLife
Local advisors and constructors:
LDI architecture:
CSADI, Central South Architectural Design Institute, INC.
LDI façade:
Beijing JinXinZhuoHong Facade Engineering Company Ltd.
LDI interior:
Beijing Qing Shang Architectural Design Engineering Co. Ltd
LDI Lighting:
BIAD Zheng Jian Wei lighting design studio
Landscape design:
Ecoland
Main structure: China Construction Second Engineering Bureau Ltd.
Façade construction: FANGDA Design Engineering Co. Ltd, Shenzhen
Facade lighting : BUME Lighting Design & Engineering Co. ltd, Shenzhen
Funnel structure: Shanghai General Metal Structure Engineer Co. Ltd, GMS
www.unstudio.com

Posted 3 December 2013

Hanjie Wanda Sqare

Hanjie Wanda Sqare in Wuhan, China Photo: © Edmon Leong

Façade design


Hanjie Wanda Sqare in Wuhan, China Photo: © Edmon Leong		The façade design reflects the handcrafted combination of two materials: polished stainless steel and patterned glass. These two materials are crafted into nine differently trimmed, but standardised spheres. Their specific positions in relation to each other recreate the effect of movement and reflection in water, or the sensuous folds of silk fabric. The geometry ranges from full stainless steel spheres to a sequence of gradually trimmed spheres down to a hemisphere, with an inlay of laminated glass with printed foil. The spheres have a diameter of 600mm and are mounted at various distances on the 900 x 900mm brushed aluminium panels, which were preassembled and mounted on site. The architectural lighting is integrated into the building envelope’s 42.333 spheres. Within each sphere LED-fixtures emit light onto the laminated glass to generate glowing circular spots. Simultaneously a second set of LED’s at the rear side of the spheres create a diffuse illumination on the back panels. A total of 3100000 LED lights where used to cover the 17894 sq.m. media facade. Various possibilities to combine and control these lights allows diverse media lighting effects and programming of lighting sequences related to the use and activation of the Hanjie Wanda Square.

Interior concept


The interior concept is developed around the North and South atria, creating two different, yet integrated atmospheres. The atria become the centre of the dynamic duality of the two Hanjie Wanda Square identities: Contemporary and Traditional. Variations in geometry, materials and details define these differing characters. Ben van Berkel: “In Hanjie Wanda Square a circular motif is repeated in many different ways, both in the facade and throughout the interior. The patterns used were influenced by numerous cultural references, both traditional and contemporary and are connected to fashion, products and everyday consumer items, but also to the use of pattern in art and in our cultural history. Patterns drive our aesthetic choices, whether they be personal or shared and in Hanjie Wanda Square act as a background to the world of desire encapsulated in the contemporary shopping plaza.” With two main entrances, the North atrium is recognised as a main venue hall, and the South atrium as a more intimate venue hall. The North atrium is characterised by warm golden and bronze materials reflecting a cultural, traditional identity. In the South atrium Silver and grey nuances with reflective textures reflect the city identity and its urban rhythm. Both atria are crowned by skylights with a funnel structure which connects the roof and the ground floor. The funnel structures are each clad with 2600 glass panels and are digitally printed with an intricate pattern. In addition, each funnel integrally houses a pair of panorama lifts.		Hanjie Wanda Sqare in Wuhan, China Photo: © Edmon Leong