Yaohai Place By Mixc

Hefei, China

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Yaohai Place By Mixc

Hefei, China

Firm

PH Alpha Design

Type

Commercial › Retail Shopping Mall

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

5000 sqft - 10,000 sqft

Opened in December 2025 in Hefei’s Yaohai District, Yaohai Place introduces a new mixed-use commercial destination, offering retail, leisure, and cultural experiences while catalyzing urban regeneration and economic growth in the area.
Located on the former site of the Hefei Motor Factory (est. 1956), the project adopts a hybrid typology of “mall + factory + street”, reinterpreting local industrial heritage through contemporary spatial design. PHA integrates local cultural context with modern language, reshaping circulation and spatial organization to create an open, layered commercial environment.
Bridges, courtyards, and streets interweave to form a porous spatial network, where shifting light and shadow enhance spatial perception—creating an immersive journey between urban memory and contemporary life.

Concept: Aggregation as Urban Living
The design is driven by the idea of “aggregation”, inspired by the character He (合) in Hefei, symbolizing convergence and vitality. Drawing from Anhui vernacular architecture and the spatial experience “under the eaves,” the concept of “Hui-style Courtyard” is proposed—where courtyards, markets, and streets merge into a fluid urban fabric.
This strategy encourages continuous pedestrian flow and dwell time, transforming the project into a dynamic urban living hub that accommodates everyday life, social interaction, and public activities.

Spatial Strategy: A Multi-Dimensional Circulation System
Breaking away from conventional floor-based retail layouts, the project establishes a multi-level internal circulation system through integrated horizontal and vertical connections.
Three major atriums anchor the spatial structure, forming a looped circulation that enhances connectivity and interaction. Secondary routes are activated through spatial variation, scale transitions, and articulated nodes, creating a rich and rhythmic exploration experience.

Spatial Narrative: Seven Thematic Realms
Based on the concept of “Hui-style Courtyard,” the project unfolds through seven spatial themes, orchestrated through materiality, light, and atmosphere:
Northeast Atrium – “Returning Courtyard”
A layered spatial node defined by stainless steel surfaces that create a fluid interplay of reflection and light.
Northwest Atrium – “Bridge Court”
A spiraling spatial sequence beneath a geometric skylight derived from the form of He (合), evoking poetic imagery of water towns.
South Atrium – “Cloud Garden”
A “super space” functioning as an urban living room, with layered lighting and a transparent façade opening toward the city.
West Street – “He Garden West”
Interwoven bridges connect north and south zones, activating pedestrian flow through an open atrium.
East Street – “He Garden East”
Stepped bridges create a three-dimensional circulation framework, enriched by reflective stainless steel ceilings and dynamic lighting.
4F Dining Zone – “Floating Food Street”
Inspired by traditional Chinese pitched roofs and tile textures, this space reinterprets a contemporary high street with natural light and semi-outdoor ambience.
B1 Retail Street – “Hidden Market”
A vibrant underground marketplace combining traditional bazaar elements with refined materials, fostering a warm and engaging social environment.

Conclusion: A Prototype for Future Urban Living
Yaohai Tiandi represents a reconfiguration of urban memory and contemporary lifestyle. By transforming retail into a participatory and shared experience, the project establishes a new model for urban regeneration—where spatial continuity, cultural identity, and evolving programs shape a forward-looking urban lifestyle.