When Jinray Development Corp builds its new headquarter, it envisions not an enclosed box office building, but a container for arts that can be shared with the city. The idea of Art and Architecture Museum therefore was born. It shines like a diamond, radiating a sense of prestige and elegance to the visitors. The architecture well translates the vision and long-established brand value of the company, which is to lead people to explore aesthetics and luxury lifestyles for the future.
Diamond is the symbol of the company. The essences of diamond- clarity, eternity and serenity shines through the project. Upon entering the lobby, the pristine white floor defines the horizon. The white wall contrasting the sculptures provides the background for the artworks to speak for themselves. Up on ceiling, a diamond-shaped skylight is the catch of the room. The lights from the sky projecting on the glasses create shades of mirages. It truly is marveling.
Sustainability is the main focus of the design. How does the building respond to the nature at located in sub-tropical climate zone that is characterized by its hot and humid weather? There are several elements we can “play with”:
Light- The natural lights traveling in the room add to the charm of the artworks and the space. The design of skylight saves energy in the daytime.
Wind- The buoyancy-driven ventilation system on the west side of the building allows air convection and brings the heat away.
Heat- The façade of the building is designed differently on each side according to building simulating of the physical environment.
On the west side, the ETFE film at the entrance opens like a big wing to provide shading for the building in rain or shine. The curvy shape is generated through Grasshopper as a design tool. The second floor is shielded with “double walls”- two layers of glasses. The outer layer is double-glazed (8mm tempered silk screen printing glass, air and low reflective glass), the inner layer is made of 10mm clear glass. The space in between the double wall allows the air to move upward and leaves the building through ventilation.
One the east side, we have used reflective roof coatings (a high-tech, low cost material) on the wall. They contain UV blocking pigments, reflecting the sun’s radiant energy back into the space. The use of reflective coatings can reduce interior temperatures of a building up to 5 degrees Celsius.
On the south side, which is also a main source of sunlight, the tempered silk screen printing glass is used again on the outer wall; the inner wall has been substituted with blank-off panels to insulate the strong heat. The window opening area is also reduced here.
For a long time, Jinray Development Corp has brought top-rate luxury residential development to the city. The project addresses not only the aesthetic but also the physical aspects of the architecture according to the natural environment. The dynamics between the two is something the designers will continue to explore.