This is a renovation project of existing department store architecture build 25 years ago. The challenge is to transform the building to readapt to the current urban context in a very short period of construction time.
Our design goal is to defined a new type of department store architecture through reprograming, renovation, and strategic addition of new floor areas. Together, they help to shape the architecture solutions which provide a new kind of social & spacial experience of urban commercial architecture.

There are 3 major design issues:
1. Reprograming
The located area is surrounded by malls and department store. The project set out to be a new type of commercial architecture, the programs thus include varieties of different food and entertainment related uses- bars, night clubs, roof-top beer garden, and a show box which is a flexible space for holding commercial and performance activities.
2. Readaptation
The site area is one of the most prosperous commercial area, and was fully developed during previous decade. The original building was built about 25 years ago, and require a massive renovation to adapt to the current context. The original building was not built up to the maximum FAR. Therefore, adding extra floor area and volume is the most important strategy for the transformation.
Extra volume are added on both ground floor and roof-top floor, the former is for reconnecting street facade and activities, the latter is for creating a new identity with unique sky line.
The idea of roof top addition is to create a new ground level rather than extending the original volume upward. Two added floor plates are folded to form the indoor and outdoor spaces at the same time and we create a dramatic cantilevered balcony surrounding the roof floor.
3. Reconnecting
The original liner park on the main entrance was planted with dense bushes and trees. In order to improve public access both visually and physically, we integrate public open space by creating a semi sunken garden to provide better opportunities for interaction.
The southern façade of the building adjoins parts of the lifted corridor, connecting important activity nodes of the region. In this project, we considered the corridor as part of the mall, and blurred the interface by varying layers of the inner and exterior space relationship.
The solution of the renovation has successfully transformed the building into one of the important landmarks within the area, and provides an alternative public commercial space.