TJAD Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tongji University Group Co., Ltd. 同济大学建筑设计研究院集团有限公司

Flower Station

Flower Station
© Jie Fan

FLOWER STATION

TJAD Original Design Studio

AREA
959 m²

YEAR
2021

PHOTOGRAPHS
Jie Fan

STRUCTURE DESIGN
TJAD Dujing Architectural Design Institute, Rui Wang, Haxun Sun

CATEGORY
Public Space, Landscape Architecture

EQUIPMENT DESIGN
TJAD Dujing Architectural Design Institute, Haoqing Jiang, Chenlu Wang

LOCATION
Shanghai, China

DESIGN TEAM
Xunan Wang, Wenjun Zhang

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Ming Zhang, Zi Zhang

CLIENT
Shanghai Xuhui Garden Development Co.

The Flower Station is the primary pavilion of the exhibition Flowering Puhuitang for the 2021 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season, located in Xuhui District, Shanghai. The Flower Station is a forerunner in the comprehensive regeneration of the site, introducing the notion of “green, art, and co-building” into the traditional neighborhood.

Flower Station
© Jie Fan
Flower Station
© Jie Fan

Materials and Details.

To reinforce the sensation of lightness and modernism, the construction materials are mostly steel framework, aluminum plate, and glass, and the colors are selected to be consistent low-saturation natural green to offer a holistic spatial experience in the space. It may also be tailored to the media demand of art events throughout the art season, remaining adaptable to the needs of long-term users. People may walk freely from the ground level to the roof terrace, generating a variety of circulations for exhibitions.

Under the premise of a limited budget, limited land area, and limited construction period, the design adopted a strategy of integrating architecture, structure, space, material, and structure and was successfully constructed in 109 days with the collaboration of all departments.

Flower Station
© Jie Fan
Flower Station
© Jie Fan

Architecture and Structure.

Considering the varied demands throughout the art season as well as a long-term operation, we investigated the prototype of the greenhouse, extracted the economically and structurally effective structural aspects of the conventional greenhouse, and designed a structural system of Core Volume + Space Truss. The long-span space endows the community with a bright and open spatial atmosphere, exhibiting an outward and inviting architectural form.

The support system employs the lattice columns which minimizes the volume while enriching the visual hierarchy and integrates with the space truss to form delicate architectural details. The weaving steel structural framework compliments the bright and open space and stands out as a highlight element of the space, which shortens the construction period and saves the budget for interior decoration.

The indoor and outdoor spaces are integrated, and movable folding doors are outfitted at crucial places on the ground floor. The originally bounded indoor space may now envelope into the open environment, allowing people to engage with the space organically rather than being constrained to the set boundaries of the structure.

Flower Station
© Jie Fan
Flower Station
© Jie Fan

The spatial roaming path resolves the differences between the indoor and outdoor, as well as between floors, and generates platforms at varying elevations with staircases, allowing people to freely wander through the indoor and outdoor environments. People may walk freely from the ground level to the roof terrace, generating a variety of circulations for exhibitions.

Materials and Details

 To reinforce the sensation of lightness and modernism, the construction materials are mostly steel framework, aluminum plate, and glass, and the colors are selected to be consistent low-saturation natural green to offer a holistic spatial experience in the space.

Flower Station
© Jie Fan
Flower Station
© Jie Fan

In terms of its details, the structural system is integrated with the lighting and shading systems to provide a hospitable environment for diverse activities. It may also be tailored to the media demand of art events throughout the art season, remaining adaptable to the needs of long-term users.

Expectations.

The Flower Station may bring a variety of activities into the community, and the welcoming and intriguing space draws people in to experience events and spirits, as well as randomness and poetry. The architectural form encourages users to interact with it, enhancing the sense of community identification and belonging.

Flower Station
© Jie Fan
Flower Station
© Jie Fan

The art season has endowed the flower house station an episodic tone, and the functions of the salon, exhibition, and relaxation during the art season will be replaced in the future by new demands such as raising flowers, appreciating flowers, buying flowers, gathering and drinking tea. On this premise, the design offers an opportunity for innovation and necessitates the participation and collaborative efforts of the community's inhabitants and operators. The Flower Station will become a new meeting place for culture, art, and civic life on the riverside of Flowering.


Flower Station
Elevations
Flower Station
Details
Flower Station
Plan
Flower Station
Diagram of Integrated space & Spatial roaming path
Flower Station
Plan

TJAD Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tongji University Group Co., Ltd. 同济大学建筑设计研究院集团有限公司
T +86 21 35376000
TJAD Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tongji University Group Co., Ltd. 同济大学建筑设计研究院集团有限公司
No. 1230 Siping Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China 200092 上海市杨浦区四平路1230号