Project Overview

Located in Hangzhou,the Intime Wulin Department Store, or Intime Wulin for short, is the first and flagship store of Intime Retail. It was opened in November 1998. Before renovation, Intime Wulin was composed of one self-owned building of the store as well as two buildings (Phase I & II) of the Hangzhou Department Store. These three buildings do not share unified visual identity as a whole.

The building renovation design focus on changing the overall architectural image. Streamlined roof beams and arches, as well as uniform frame modules are the highlights of the design. One-layer continuous arches form a unified business interface the use of uniform modular design ensures the integrity of the three buildings and enables them to possess distinctive characteristics for the sake of structural variety.

Project Commissioner

Zhejiang Intime Department Store

Project Creator

UDIA Architectural Engineering Design( Shanghai )Co.,Ltd.

Team

Kiko Leong(Lead Architect), Claire Xie(Project Manager), Claire Xie, Gehry Shen, Ning Xia, Shifu Xing, Yafang Shen

Project Brief

Therefore, the building design will focus on changing the overall architectural image. Since the three buildings were remodeled many times in the past 20 years with no precise structural drawings available, the architects decided to unify the entire elevation through frames that can connect the three buildings despite the differences in their forms and height. Existing elements and those that may be introduced to the store in the future can be unified by the frames. This makes it possible for Intime Wulin to adapt to the problems that continue to challenge the renovation. In addition, from the perspective of the department store’s external facade, this design can meet the changing needs of advertising and display as well. On the whole, the core theme of the building design emphasizes the Oriental aesthetics of “harmony in diversity”.

Project Innovation/Need

Streamlined roof beams and arches, as well as uniform frame modules are the highlights of the design--the streamlined frame cleverly brings the three buildings together; one-layer continuous arches form a unified business interface (these arches are both beautiful and practical, and they can remind people of numerous arch bridges across the West Lake and the Grand Canal, which is quite Hangzhou style); the use of uniform modular design ensures the integrity of the three buildings and enables them to possess distinctive characteristics for the sake of structural variety at the same time.

Design Challenge

Before renovation, Intime Wulin was composed of one self-owned building of the store as well as two buildings (Phase I & II) of the Hangzhou Department Store. Built in the 1990s, these three buildings do not share unified visual identity as a whole.

Besides, the store fails to align with the modern urban image and meet actual commercial needs due to the following problems: the outdated design style of the building elevation is less attractive to younger consumers; the streets along the commercial area are wide enough, but lack enough space for people to rest; the ground floor is alienated from the main roads nearby, which makes it harder to guide potential consumers to the store; the advertising space is in disorder, and the exterior facade lacks suitable lighting facilities at night, thus making these buildings look much older.

Sustainability

In the Renovation of Intime Wulin Department Store, architects took into account the cost savings and architectural sustainability. The original A Mall has a part of the carved wall tiles which are preserved as completely as possible for subsequent reconstruction. The case goes same with Intime's B Mall. The fusion of tradition and lighting gives the entire architectural history precipitation and continuation of new and old life .

Via design, more green elements were added to the vertical portion of the roof and facade. The building itself is also a green carrier, cause it is both a building and a landscape.

At the same time, in order to achieve a transparent and bright effect, Intime's A and B Malls retain the original building's glass roof, enhance the lighting of the platform, reducing the use of light as well as costs.

Architecture - Commercial - International

This award celebrates the design process and product of planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, and aesthetic considerations in commercial projects. Consideration given for material selection, technology, light and shadow.
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