Dalian 37 Xiang Cultural and Creative Park

This architectural installation manifests spatial intentions through the symbolic vocabulary of protective membranes and controlled revelation, the dominant perforated screening system functioning beyond mere climate mediation to embody contemporary discourse around privacy and transparency, interiority and display, the regular orthogonal grid of rectangular apertures suggesting order, rationality, and systematic thinking while their cumulative effect dematerializes solid boundaries, this paradox of assertive pattern creating visual dissolution resonates with digital-age consciousness of information screens, pixels, and data filtering, the screens' whiteness carries multiple symbolic registers, white traditionally associated with purity, new beginnings, institutional authority, and in many traditions spiritual transcendence or sacred space, particularly relevant if this structure serves cultural or creative functions where white walls conventionally denote neutral exhibition ground allowing displayed content primacy, the curved crown element rising above orthogonal base suggests hierarchical symbolism, higher zones often associated with elevated purpose, aspiration, or importance, the crown metaphor itself carrying associations with achievement, completion, and distinction, its sweeping gesture might be interpreted as welcoming embrace or protective shelter, the curve's organic quality introducing biomorphic suggestion within geometric rigor, perhaps evoking natural forms like waves, clouds, or unfurling leaves, this integration of curved and orthogonal geometry represents longstanding architectural symbolic tension between organic and rational, nature and culture, body and mind, the cantilever void at lower left demonstrates structural truth-telling, exposing the building's load-bearing logic while creating threshold space that symbolically mediates between exterior public realm and interior protected domain, thresholds carrying rich symbolic significance as liminal zones of transformation and passage, the retention of weathered stone retaining wall in the foreground layer introduces temporal symbolism, the juxtaposition of aged textured stone against pristine modern render suggesting dialogue between past and present, heritage and innovation, rootedness and aspiration, stones themselves carrying archetypal weight as foundational, enduring, and connected to earth, the horizontal emphasis of the composition's proportions and banding suggests stability, repose, and connection to landscape rather than vertical aspiration toward transcendence, horizontal organization often associated with democratic accessibility versus hierarchical tower symbolism, the perforated screens' function as environmental mediators positions them symbolically as architecture performing responsible stewardship, contemporary buildings increasingly required to embody sustainability values through visible strategies, the screens' ability to modulate light and air without mechanical intervention suggesting harmony between human comfort and natural cycles, the integration of vegetation shadows animating white surfaces represents symbolic completion, architecture achieving full meaning through landscape partnership, seasonal change, and organic growth, this biophilic integration suggests values of environmental connection, temporal awareness, and ecological embeddedness, the overall geometric discipline combined with sculptural flourish might be interpreted as representing balance between rational systems and creative expression, institutional stability and innovative thinking, particularly resonant if this serves as a cultural or creative facility, the building's landmark curved gesture visible from distance potentially functioning as identifying symbol, architectural icon representing the institution's presence and values within its urban context, the composition's clarity, precision, and luminosity collectively suggest aspirational values, excellence in execution, and commitment to quality while maintaining accessibility through human-scaled proportions and welcoming gestures.

Transformed from an abandoned factory, Dalian 37 Xiang is located halfway up the mountain side with a main aspect towards the harbor in the north of the city. The design is inspired by the geographical features of Dalian's iconic mountains and adjacent seas, creating a new architectural image that echoes the spirit of the city, establishing a contrast between the old and the new through light interventions. The design objective was to renew this old factory into a regional landmark of the city, accommodate multiple business types, and finally make it an open and dynamic city node.