Hanjie Wanda Square 2013, China, Wuhan

Hanjie Wanda Square: a Synergy of Flows

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. The multifunctional organisation of the master plan - which includes cultural and tourist facilities as well as commercial, office and residential components – acts as an attractor to the area for visitors, inhabitants and commuters alike. The concept of luxury is incorporated by means of ideas focussing on the craftsmanship of noble, yet simple materials. The façade design focuses on achieving a dynamic effect, reflecting the handcrafted combination of two materials: polished stainless steel and patterned glass.

As water was utilised as a main organisational principle in the design for the Wuhan Central Cultural Centre the theme ‘synergy of flows’ is used as a starting point for the organisation of the buildings. 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. The façade design focuses on achieving a dynamic effect, reflecting 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. During daytime, the building interacts with and reflects daylight. 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 façade. 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.

http://www.unstudio.com/projects/hanjie-wanda-square

Details

Building or project owner : Wuhan Wanda East Lake Real State Co., Ltd

Architecture : UNStudio

Project artist/ concept/ design/ planning : UNStudio

Facade design : UNStudio

Light design : ag Licht with LightLife, BIAD

Light hardware (LED hardware) : Neo-Neon

Lighting control software : E:cue, Coolux

Project co-ordination : Wanda Group Headquarters Planning Institute

Descriptions

Facade type and geometry (structure) : The façade skin consists of 42.333 stainless steel spheres and aprox. 4700 aluminum back-panels (9 sphere clusters). The substructure is made of steel, the superstructure is of DNA. The nine differently trimmed, but standardised spheres range from full spheres down to a hemisphere, with an inlay of laminated glass with printed foil, and have a diameter of 600mm.

Kind of light creation : The architectural lighting is integrated into the 42.333 spheres. Within each sphere LED-fixtures emit light onto the laminated glass. Simultaneously a second set of LED’s at the rear side of the spheres create a diffuse illumination on the back panels. Various possibilities to control these lights allow for diverse media lighting sequences related to the activation of the Hanjie Wanda Square.

Resolution and transmitting behaviour : The spheres are creating a medial light curtain with 2 layers of low resolution. Each sphere has about 20W. The backlit alabaster inlay is creating a sharp direct pixel and LEDs on the backside of the spheres are projecting a soft pixel on to the back-panel. The two layers can be controlled separately by video this way you can create visualeffects depending on the viewing angle.

Pixel distance : 90 cm

Luminace : The light installation is not activated during the day. The illumination starts at dawn with both layers. After 10 pm the direct pixel is switched off so there is just the soft indirect lighting on the back-panels.

Urban situation : The project is located in the Wuhan Central Culture Centre, one of the most important areas of Wuhan City. The multifunctional organisation of the master plan - which includes cultural and tourist facilities as well as commercial, office and residential components – acts as an attractor to the area. UNStudio’s design concept capitalises on the strategic location within the master plan area.

Participatory architecture & urban interaction

Mediacredits