The Chinese firm Wutopia Lab has carried out an intervention that reactivates an old neighbourhood in the city of Shanghai. With a clean and simple intervention, of minimal proportions, through an arch in the façade that continues in the interior, it transforms the nearby urban landscape, making the intervention generate a "novilunio" at night.

With this project Wutopia Lab designs a meeting space for the local community. Located in an old abandoned shop used by parents to wait for their children to leave the school across the street. After rainy days, the arch of the façade is reflected in the puddles becoming a full moon.

Description of project by Wutopia Lab

Small stories from the big city.

The council of Shanghai North Bund Tanghan Street commissioned Wutopia Lab to construct a common space for the “tiger mums” of the local district. The total area of this project only adds up to 35 m². Formerly a shopfront for at-home aged-care facilities, the space was mostly empty due to poor management. As this building is located right opposite of Beihong Senior Highschool, many parents tend to gather and use this space to converse with each other, help each other pick up the kids and sneak in some casual tutoring, forming a voluntary “tiger mum” group within this small community.

The Tanghan Street Council hopes to convert this shopfront into a communal meeting space that encourages the interaction of the parents and the students and introduce tea parties, workshops, and arts and crafts displays, revitalizing this poorly used space to provide a great converging space between the local community and the school. 

Change by Design.

The Alteration to the Façade is Clear and Simple. When facing the challenge to design along a messily constructed yet historically rich suburban streetscape, I made my decision in five seconds. By using an arch that dictates the whole façade, the façade becomes a contrasting next chapter to the existing disordered streetscape. It is the most simple and effective. 

The Slightly More Complex Interior.

The irregular site is separated into 3 areas, where the small spaces at the corners are used for storage and a kitchenette. The language of the arch is continued inside, and along with the arch of the exterior façade, a layered visual effect is generated such that even though the area is small, the space seems deep. 

Contextual Super Connection.

After the rain, the arch is reflected in the puddles on the ground. This is when the arch becomes a complete circle, resonating visually with the Oriental Pearl Tower, as if this neglected old district has become part of the modern Shanghai once again. Its visual effect has achieved its maximum potential, despite having such limited space. 

New moon shines the old town.

The photographer captured the building moments after a winter shower and the building, like a full moon, shines upon this old district. Locals gather in front of it, perhaps somewhat proud and hopeful. 

Convenience and comfort are both essential, but dignity shouldn’t be ignored, because dignity holds the essential human qualities and the spirit that listens to voice of the city. 

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Architects
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Wutopia Lab. Project Architect.- Zhilin MU. Chief Architect.- YU Ting.
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Design team
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Chongguang FANG
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Client
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North Bund Tanghan Street
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Area
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35 m²
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Dates
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Construction.- 10.2018
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Material
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Perforated aluminum plate, Glassl, Steel plate, Coating, Green wall
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Location
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Shanghai, China. Nanxun District
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Wutopia Lab was founded by the chief architect Yu Ting in Shanghai, which is an architecture company based on a new paradigm of complex systems. Wutopia Lab regards Shanghai's culture and lifestyle as a starting point, using architecture as a tool to promote sociological progress within building practice. Wutopia Lab focuses on human and is dedicated to linking different aspects of urban life: traditional, daily and cultural to interpret Urbanian lifestyle, and to develop a contemporary Chinese aesthetic based on Shanghai.

While facing each project, Wutopia Lab's practices are promoted to show different innovative strategies, thinking modes and forms. Wutopia Lab is committed to comprehensive design, not only to complete the concept and deepen of buildings, but also focuses on early planning and analysis along with landscape and interior design. Wutopia Lab can also coordinate and collaborate with different types of departments and on-site construction.
 
Awards.- In 2021, YU TING won the Lux Life Leading Designers Awards, the HD Wave of the Future honorees in 2019, the Ideal Future Award's Designer of the Year in 2019, and the Frame Awards Designer of the Year shortlist in 2018. He was selected for the AD100 list of Andi AD in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023 and Forbes China's most promising architect in 2015.

Wutopia Lab won Winner for Architecture Master Prize 2023 and Silver Award for DFA 2023; it has also been selected by Architecture Record to be Design Vanguard as the only chosen office from China in 2018, Archdaily - a selection of the world’s best Architects, 2020 IF Design Award, 2019 IDA Gold, Best of best in Iconic Awards 2018, Gold in Best of Year Award 2021 and Special mention: Best Young Firm for 2021 Architizer A+ Firm Awards.

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Published on: February 20, 2019
Cite:
metalocus, EDWIN GUAILLA
"An urban trigger. Moonstruck Maison by Wutopia Lab" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/urban-trigger-moonstruck-maison-wutopia-lab> ISSN 1139-6415
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