Artpower Creative Space No.10

Artpower Creative Space N.10

ISSN: 2409-4625 Size: 215﹡285mm Pages: 168

The magazine ACS No.10, themed “Home for the Soul”, provides readers with a place to meditate, to be baptized by art, and to shelter the heart.

Copyright © Artpower International Publishing Co., Ltd.

Architects | Zhang Lei / AZL architects

Collaborator | ADI-NJU

Location | Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China

Team | Zhang Lei, Wang Ying, Jin Xin, Cao Yongshan, Hang Xiaomeng, Huang Longhui

Area | 200 m2

Photography | Yao Li

Nanjing Wanjing Garden Chapel

The project — a 200 square meter small chapel, is located in Wanjing Garden along Nanjing’s Riverfront. Hosted by priests from Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, it supports religious activities like worship and wedding services. This wood and steel structured chapel has gentle exterior shape as well as strong interior space infused with mysterious religious power. Its plain material doesn’t fail in expressing the delicate construction logic.

The earliest and fundamental church space has two interrelated tendencies — center and depth. Both the centrality from the Pantheon and the deep axis of the Basilica was inherited in the early Christian Architecture. The central and axial symmetry of church space became less prominent during the Modernism period, which was closely related to the Protectants’ rejection of Catholic Hierarchy. In the design of Wanjing Garden Chapel, the architect didn’t purposefully reject the “centrality” and “depth” of classical space sequence. In plan, it has an octagonal central hall surrounded by square shaped corridors. In section, the use of roof profile and the long slit of skylight amplify the depth of space and emphasize on the high point over the sacred space where all axis meet.

DESIGN KEYWORDS Religious Imagery Ideal Form Light "Light" Construction

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As a religious institution with very simple functions, this small chapel has its overly “ideal” space that couldn’t attribute to any particular style, but “the nature that tolerates all.”

“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” — 1 John Bible “Light” is an important theme in the religious expressions of church space. In this particular design, light falls through the strip skylight right above the axis of alter into the center of the hall, and also penetrate from behind the holy cross on the alter wall. The presentation of this 300 mm wide light strip is the most powerful defining element of the interior space. Other natural light comes gently through the wood strips into the openings on the wall.

“Light” construction strategy is a wise choice under tight project schedule and limited budget.

Roof structure, in accordance with the “cheap” material — natural light, adds expressiveness to the entire space. All interior surfaces are painted white, emphasizing the leading role of light and space. The exterior wood strips and asphalt shingles are left in their natural color, emphasizing the importance of nature. The SPF strips surrounding the church are so delicate that their length-toradius ratio could be 1:120, largely exceeding the normal load bearing. With length as long as 12 meters and section area only 38*89 mm, the strips are connected to the roof and ground by metal parts at both ends, keeping them in their ideal stretching status. Adjacent wood strips are also connected with U-shape metal parts to insure stability. These together achieved a metal-wood structure that’s extremely simple in material selection and installation.

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Designer | Chih-kang Chu

Location | Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Area | 5,280 m2

Photography | Chih-kang Chu

Fangsuo Chengdu

Fangsuo Chengdu is located at the underground floor of commercial streets surrounded the Daci Temple, in where Xuanzang, a famous Chinese Buddhist monk in Tang dynasty, lived before he made a religious pilgrimage to India.

therefore he created a modern underground “sutra depository�, which symbolizes discovering the ancient knowledge from its hidden place. To resemble the scene of an ancient sutra depository, materials with plain look are used: concrete columns with large cutting surfaces, bookcases in the loft, the bridge and catwalk across the bookcases.

The Taiwanese designer Chih-kang Chu was inspired by the history;

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Road to Be a Master of Modern Minimalism Steve Leung is lauded as one of the world’s leading interior designers. As a dedicated contemporary-style advocate, Steve’s works reflect a unique character of minimalism, with skilful adoption of Asian culture and arts. In the Greater China Region, especially in Mainland China, Steve brings the star effect in design industry. His minimalism also becomes an aesthetic brand delivered to the globe.

1987

1997

2011

2012

Established own architectural and urban planning consultancy.

Restructured the company into Steve Leung Architects Ltd. & Steve Leung Designers Ltd.

Set up branch office in Chengdu, China.

Held “Hong Kong Design·Design Hong Kong Exhibition” in Hong Kong and started “55 25 15 Steve Leung Design Roving Exhibition” in Beijing.

1957 Born in Hong Kong.

2008 1986 Obtained Master in Urban Planning degree from University of Hong Kong.

Set up “Steve Leung Travelling Scholarships”.

2000

2013

Set up branch office in Shanghai, China.

Joined yoo, as Creative Director of “Steve Leung & yoo”.

1975 Admitted to University of Hong Kong; studied architecture.

2007 Set up “1957 & Co.” for hospitality investments with “Create an Original Lifestyle” as the brand philosophy.

1983

2001

Qualified as Registered Architect in Hong Kong.

·Launched first furniture series “i-chi” with MAXXA. ·Published first work collection “Minimalist Home by Steve Leung”.

1978 Graduated from University of Hong Kong with Bachelor of Arts degree in Architectural Studies; took a year out working in an architecture firm.

Steve Leung

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1981 Graduated with Bachelor of Architecture degree from University of Hong Kong with distinction; selected to represent Hong Kong in the UIA International Design Competition for Students, held in Poland, winning several awards.

Set up branch office in Beijing, China.

2003 Formed affiliate, Leung & Morita Designers Ltd., with Yasumichi Morita, a well-known Japanese interior designer.

2005

Now · With total number of employee over 400, around four-fifths of interior design projects located in Mainland China and the rest in Hong Kong and overseas. Architecture and interior design projects extend into largescale hospitality category. Its works spread over United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, the United States, UAE, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan etc., and successfully penetrated into over 100 cities across the world. · Establish a new branded company - Steve Leung Lifestyle Ltd. (SLL) for new A&A business.

2014 ·70% of the shares of Steve Leung Designers and her subsidiaries have been successfully acquired by Jangho Group. ·Set up new subsidiary brand companies Steve Leung Hospitality Ltd. (SLH) and Steve Leung Exchange Ltd. (SLX). ·Started “Think Globally·Act Locally - Steve Leung Design Exhibition 2014” in Shenzhen.

1994 — 2015 Awarded One of the World’s Best Interior Designers by Andrew Martin International Interior Design Awards for 12 times.

Set up branch office in Guangzhou, China.

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Designer | Steve Leung

Client | Henderson Land Development Co. Ltd. Area | 5636 sq. ft.

Location | Central, Hong Kong, China

Photography | Ulso Tsang

39 Conduit Road I

Situated in mid levels, the duplex flat holds a panoramic view of Victoria Harbor. With unique modern design ideas, Steve Leung fully exerts its existing advantages to create stylish and comfortable living space.

Through simple and smooth hallway comes large and gorgeous living room, where white arc ceiling up to 4 meter high, with bronzetto marble flooring and ebony walls, together create elegant and noble atmosphere. Light grey sofa, black marble coffee table and lamp add a sense of modernity. French windows invite warm sunshine during the day and intoxicating night scene of the harbor after nightfall.

Dining room is next to the living room and holds the same stunning scenery. Grey upholstery wall is decorated with convex curved lines, large mirrors and paintings, enhancing the sense of spaciousness. Uniquely shaped ebony ceiling lamp echoes with ebony platform, while marble dining table makes the whole space much more stylish.

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Marble stairs lead to master suite, where beige and grey lay the tone of elegance and comfort.

Light-colored furniture, wall padding with beige fabric, black glossy lacquered cabinet and stainless steel doorframe highlight stylish charm. Through marble floor you step into bathroom, with wall decorated by silver mosaic and shiny black glass, leaving an atmosphere of noble fashion.

DO MORE THAN JUST DESIGN

Parents’ room is in the lower floor. Dark floor and wall are in match with dark blue striped rugs, creating the feeling of maturity and modest.

Developing a design brand, just like running a restaurant, needs a clear style to gain general popularity, and keeping with different development period to clear the development target, market positioning, strengths, weaknesses and company images alike according to the market, then to exploit new field, for example when doing a design, we will consider the preference of the targeted c u s t o m e r, t h e g e o g r a p h y a n d c u l t u r e background of the general environment, the layout of the interior and exterior space to figure out the most suitable solution. While fulfilling the design concept, we create works that satisfy customers and cater for the market.

·2· ACS: As you said, if one chooses the marketoriented design field, he should combine life, aesthetics and art by commercial logic.

How do you balance the proportion of artistry and commercial quality of design? Can a commercial thought add more value to design inspiration?

·1· ACS: One of the influences that you brought to design field is to make consumers understand the value of design better. As for emphasizing the brand and making full use of its value, could you share your own brand management strategies?

Steve: The purpose of design is to improve life quality. When a designer designs a work, no matter it is a product or a project, he is supposed to let others know it, thus the design and its concept and influence can be conveyed to others. Only in this way can the final impact be exerted, after all this is an information society. Companies in design field cannot simply focus on design, instead, company management and brand strategies are also important. A responsible manager will consider the brand development and inheritance, understand the market operation, and know the strengths and weaknesses of its own. Also, he can quickly respond and adjust to the occasions and markets. However, as a designer, those adjustments cannot be based on deviating his principle and concept but on balancing both facets.

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Steve: Design is not fine art, which aims to improve life quality, to give people a better living environment, thus it has certain commercial purposes. Good design works fit both functional and aesthetics requirements.

Designers should start from target users’ needs and clients’ expectations, optimizing the space by expertise, reasonable layout, appropriate proportion, material selection and emotional elements, such as color scheme, lines and lighting, etc. Therefore, the balance between artistry and commercial quality of design can be reached.

Design is balancing sense and reason.

Design concept is emotional, but it is based on the market demand and its data to rational analysis. No matter what type of project we should consider the clients’ requirements, brand, the market positioning and style; the local geography and culture background; and the inner and external space layout. What’s more, the users’ identity, family background, living habit, and even their preference are taken into consideration to endow projects individuality, thus to reach a triple-win result, and clients, users and designers can all enjoy the design.

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A big day in Bondi for Sculpture by the Sea 1. Alejandro Propato – Permanent sunrise.

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Sculpture by the Sea is an international series of exhibitions presented at Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia from 6 - 23 March, 2014, Aarhus in Denmark under the Patronage of TRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark from 5 June - 5 July 2015 and Bondi.

2. Koichi Ishino – Windstone – the threshold of consciousnéss.

Sculpture by the Sea, the free and temporary outdoor exhibition, in its 18th year, stretches for two kilo metres (1.24 miles) along the coastline between Sydney's famous Bondi and Tamarama beaches, transforming the breathtaking Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk with 109 diverse sculptures by artists from 16 countries.

4. Wang Shugang – Men playing with birds.

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3. NEON – House of mirrora.

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AI WEIWEI ON ALCATRAZ

The exhibition @Large: Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz, organized by the FOR-SITE Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, is inspired by the island’s layered history as a 19th-century military fortress, notorious federal penitentiary, significant site of Native American history, and now one of America’s most visited national parks. “Art played an integral role in the public’s understanding and appreciation of America’s early national parks,” said Frank Dean, general superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. “People may take away different messages from @Large, but our hope is that the exhibition will give visitors a different way to understand what Alcatraz means as a place of incarceration and isolation.”

Ai’s installation work Forever Bicycles was included in previous issue of ACS. One of the most prominent cultural figures of the 21st century known as “China’s Andy Warhol", Ai Weiwei is a Beijing-based artist and activist whose work encompasses sculpture, installation, photography, film, architecture, and social criticism. His work often responds to conditions in China, including limits placed on free speech and expression, as well as his personal experience of incarceration.

Ai Weiwei explores human rights and freedom of expression through seven new site-specific installations inspired by alcatraz island.

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Designer | Martijn van Strien

Images | Imke Ligthart

Black Tarpaulin — Dystopian Brutalist Outerwear

This series of coats explores the possibilities of combining very durable but inexpensive materials with fast and effective ways of putting them together.

To be functional at low cost, every piece consists of a single piece of heavy duty black tarpaulin and there are only straight cuts and sealed seams.

The extremely basic shapes are inspired by Brutalist architecture, a spawn from the Modernist architectural movement. It has an austere feeling due to the linear, fortress-like and blockish look. The style comes off cold, distant, sober and mysterious. These are the outfits that make it possible for man to live through a dark future.

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Design | Petar Zaharinov

TapeFlips — creates a new way of DIY nature

Principle The principle of TapeFlips is very simple, involving just three pieces of adhesive tape connecting the surface of one panel with the surface on the opposite side of another panel. The trick is to alternate the three pieces in a chess pattern – two on one side and the one in the middle – on the other.

Adaptability TapeFlips can adapt functionally in many directions: alternative usage of same setup, rearrangement of the parts in a brand new setup, adjustment of dimensions, flexibility. It is an excellent space saving furniture system!

TapeFlips is a new way of making furniture. It is as simple as paper and tape!

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