Hanjie Wanda Square in Wuhan, New Retail Building in China

Hanjie Wanda Square in Wuhan

New Chinese Retail Building – design by Ben van Berkel / UNStudio

28 Nov 2013

Hanjie Wanda Square

Architect: Ben van Berkel / UNStudio

Ben van Berkel / UNStudio’s Hanjie Wanda Square in Wuhan completed

Hanjie Wanda Square is a new luxury shopping plaza located in the Wuhan Central Culture Centre, one of the most important areas of Wuhan City in China.
Following a competition in 2011, with design entries from national and international architects, UNStudio’s overall design was selected by Wanda as the winning entry for the facade and interior of the Hanjie Wanda Square. The shopping plaza houses international brand stores, world-class boutiques, catering outlets and cinemas.

photograph © Edmon Leong

In UNStudio’s design the concept of luxury is incorporated by means of focussing on the craftsmanship of noble, yet simple materials and combines both contemporary and traditional design elements in one concept.
Ben van Berkel: “Reflection, light and pattern are used throughout the Hanjie Wanda Square to create an almost fantastical world. New microcosms and experiences are created for the shopper, similar perhaps to the world of theatre, whereby the retail complex becomes almost a stage or a place of performance and offers a variety of different impressions and experiences to the visitor.”

image © Edmon Leong

Synergy of flows

For the design of the Hanjie Wanda Square attention and visitor flows are guided from the main routes towards the facades and entrances of the building. From the three main entrances visitor flows are thereafter guided to two interior atria.
The concept of ‘synergy of flows’ is key to all of the design components; the fluid articulation of the building envelope, the programming of the dynamic façade lighting and its content and the interior pattern language which guides customers from the central atria to the upper levels and throughout the building via linking corridors.

photograph © Edmon Leong

Façade design

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.

photograph © Edmon Leong

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.

photograph © Edmon Leong

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.

photograph © Edmon Leong

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.

photograph © Edmon Leong

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.

photo © Edmon Leong

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.”

photo © Edmon Leong

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.

photo © Edmon Leong

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.

photo © Edmon Leong

Hanjie Wanda Square Wuhan – Building Information

Hanjie Wanda Square, Wuhan, China, 2011 – 2013

Client:
武汉万达东湖置业有限公司 / 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
Status: Realised

photo © Edmon Leong

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: agLicht,

Local advisors and constructors:
LDI architecture:
CSADI, Central South Architectural Design Institute, INC.
中南建筑设计院股份有限公司

LDI façade:
Beijing JinXinZhuoHong Facade Engineering Company Ltd.
北京市金星卓宏幕墙工程有限公司

LDI interior:
Beijing Qing Shang Architectural Design Engineering Co. Ltd
北京清尚环艺建筑设计院有限公司

LDI Lighting:
BIAD Zheng Jian Wei lighting design studio
郑见伟照明设计工作室

Landscape design:
Ecoland, 易兰

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 上海通用金属结构工程有限公司

photo © Edmon Leong