XLXN Lifestyle Art Space is an 199m2 art exhibition space, located in Panyu district of Guangzhou, China. Panyu district has played an important role in shaping and cultivating the Lingnan culture, whose unique tradition and local arts have shaped generations of local Chinese. By utilising contemporary art in this project, the designers strive to reignite the younger generations’ love towards local culture and their surrounding nature.
The innovative aspect of the design of this project is that it is a ‘living’ interior design, as it divided the designers’ experience into separate pictures, which were then assembled into a physical structure within the art space. Furthermore, the building arches are built in different sizes, accommodating individuals of differing ages and genders, so that each individual will have distinctive visual and sensual perceptions. The stage and arches can be utilised to display different exhibits, or can be used as seating areas. The designers hope that visitors are able to feel and engage within the space, and subsequently become a part of the arts. The ‘rivers’ flowing around in the space inspired by the differing shapes and directions of Panyu’s main rivers, which are portrayed through the use of Karesansui, also known as the Japanese dry garden style, in the studio.
This project upholds sustainability in many aspects, such as the choice of materials as well as flexible architecture. Most of the materials used in this project are locally sourced, environmentally friendly materials, such as old red bricks, cement, wood, etc. The bricks used for the building arches are old bricks which were cut and reused. Furthermore, 80% of the structures used in the art space can be reconstructed and reused in other projects in the future.