Non-Linear Chronologies: 7 Chinese Firms Designing Architecture Against the March of Time
Architizer’s 12th Annual A+Awards are officially underway! Sign up for key program updates and prepare your submission ahead of the Main Entry Deadline on December 15th.
Can a building exist simultaneously in the past, present and future? Time-defying architecture is a groundbreaking movement that says, yes, it can. The approach, more than a stylistic exercise, challenges the conventional linear approach of architectural history, integrating eras seemingly seamlessly through a singular design.
Across China, this architectural philosophy is gaining remarkable traction, reflecting a unique cultural junction of reverence and rapid modernization. Chinese architecture firms are at the forefront of this movement, driven by deeply engrained historical consciousness and a drive for global architectural leadership. This fusion of ancient heritage with futuristic vision highlights a unique approach to preserving cultural identity while embracing the technological revolution.
Key to the practice lies in historical knowledge and a precise application of it alongside the technological advancements of the modern world – architects must adeptly navigate between eras, employing techniques from Brutalism to biomimicry, with a sensitivity that avoids pastiche. The seven A+Award winners highlighted showcase innovative structures and materials that have created spaces that are both forward-thinking and multi-layered in time.
Bache Community Center
By DEDANG DESIGN, Suzhou, China.
Jury Award Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Community Centers
Bache Community Center by DEDANG DESIGN, Suzhou, China. Photographs by Dedang Design
The Bache Community Center is a modern building located in Suzhou, designed by DEDANG DESIGN. The center is situated in the old street of Bache, near the historic Grand Canal and is part of a micro-renewal project which aims to revitalize the area in anticipation of the new Soochow University campus.
The building successfully combines contemporary design with a deep sense of heritage and place, with the idea behind the design being to blend the old with the new. Using a “column-free” design, the center appears to “float” above the ground, creating an open and airy space that contrasts with the surrounding cramped quarters of the old street. In a bid to respect the heritage of the site the center has a courtyard that is raised and sunken, surrounded by old bricks, which offers a communal space while incorporating a contemporary architectural language. A ginkgo tree, which is a symbol of life and connects the building to the changing seasons, was included in the atrium.
PUSHINE
By Chongqing Qimo Architectural Design Consulting, Chongqing, China.
Jury Award Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Hotels and Resorts
PUSHINE by Chongqing Qimo Architectural Design Consulting, Chongqing, China
PUSHINE, a stunning resort by Chongqing Qimo Architectural Design Consulting Co., Ltd., is located in the peaceful Jinfo Mountain area of Nanchuan District, Chongqing. Completed in 2021, it is a modern hideaway that incorporates ancient Buddhist and Taoist principles of Zen. The hotel offers a contemporary escape, but it pays homage to age-old concepts and creating an environment that is ideal for rest and contemplation.
The flow of the mountain stream inspires the design of the hotel. It includes cottages and bridges set at different elevations, building a connection between architecture and the natural landscape. PUSHINE is a modern retreat that is a seamless blend of contemporary resort architecture with traditional Chinese philosophy that finds a harmonious balance, offering visitors a tranquil space to experience a profound sense of mental clarity and peace.
Chenjiagou “Impression Tai Chi” Theatre
By Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaozuo, China
Jury Award Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Hall / Theater
Chenjiagou “Impression Tai Chi” Theatre by Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tsinghua University., Jiaozuo, China. Photographs by Zhan Changheng
The “Impression Tai Chi” Theatre is located in Chenjiagou, which is considered the birthplace of Chinese Tai Chi Chuan. Designed by the Architectural Design & Research Institute of Tsinghua University Co., LTD the theater can accommodate up to 1200 people and is a testament to the preservation of natural landscape.
The theatre has a unique mirrored stainless steel facade that reflects the sky, creating a visually appealing connection with the environment without interfering with the visual narrative of the landscape. An annex inspired by traditional Chinese courtyards is constructed using rubble concrete and extends to the exterior, where the natural terrain is followed. Featuring grassy slopes on the roof and surroundings, the theatre design creates a “3D park” that adds value to the guest experience and honors the natural location of the building. It is a prime example of architecture that works with its surroundings, defying traditional notions of architecture to allow for harmonious coexistence.
Free Space with Wood
By Fan Architectural Firm (FANAF), Nanjing, China
Jury Award Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Showrooms
Free Space with Wood by Fan Architectural Firm (FANAF), Nanjing, China. Photographs by ingallery Jin Xiaowen.
The “Free Space with Wood” commercial showroom in Nanjing was designed by Fan Architectural Firm (FANAF) in 2022. The project is a fine example of the importance of preserving historical elements in modern design. The focal point of the space is a restored red brick wall, traditional to historical Chinese architecture, that connects the past with the present.
The showroom is divided into two courtyards using wooden elements and frameless glass to blend the interior and exterior spaces. The entrance courtyard merges indoors and outdoors with a black box, as it integrates the vibrancy of the city. The traditionally inspired internal courtyard features a wooden ceiling that extends outward and a C-shaped teahouse, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
FANAF’s design approach focuses on preserving historical integrity with minimal intervention and maximum preservation while adding contemporary functionality. The design creates a dynamic yet respectful dialogue between old and new.
The Oatmeal Factory
By JSPA Design, Ningwu County, Xinzhou, China
Jury and Popular Choice Award Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Factories & Warehouses
The Oatmeal Factory by JSPA Design, Ningwu County, Xinzhou, China. Photographs by Schran Images
The Oatmeal Factory in Ningwu County , built in 2022 by JSPA Design, is a groundbreaking industrial facility that rethinks what a factory can be. Rather than being a muted and utilitarian space, the factory incorporates elements of nature and sensory experience into its design, creating a space that defies traditional industrial architecture.
The factory is divided into two levels. The lower level is made up of brick walls and houses the technical spaces, which is a tribute to local building traditions. The upper level is a modern concrete volume designed for public spaces. By incorporating patios and gardens, the factory introduces natural light and creates a sense of openness that is not usually found in traditional factories.
By blending traditional brickwork with modern concrete, the factory creates a conversation between past and present. The Oatmeal Factory is an innovative blend of industry and nature, reimagining the role and form of a factory in a contemporary context.
Chongqing Shibati Traditional Style Area
By Beijing AN-Design Architects, Chongqing, China
Jury Award Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Urban & Masterplan
Recently revitalized by Beijing AN-Design Architects, the Chongqing Shibati Traditional Style Area represents the perfect blend of modern technology and traditional spaces. Shibati is located in the old city of Chongqing and is known for its ancient stairway and deep cultural roots dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The renovation project, covering over one million square feet, was guided by the principle of protecting and inheriting Shibati’s core values. The design retained the original urban layout of “seven streets and six lanes” and preserved the complex elevation changes characteristic of the site.
The restoration process was meticulous and cultural relics, historical buildings, cliffs, stairways and trees that define the mountain city were all restored. Elements like telegraph poles and iron railings were also restored to maintain historical continuity. Modern features were carefully integrated using original styles, techniques and materials. This approach created a seamless blend of old and new, ensuring that the Shibati area remains a living and breathing part of Chongqing’s urban fabric. It is a place where traditional charm coexists with modern functionality.
Stations of Shanghai Metro Line 18
By Shanghai Rail Transit Line 18 Development, Shanghai, China
Popular Choice Winner, 11th Annual A+Awards, Transport Interiors
Stations of Shanghai Metro Line 18 by Shanghai Rail Transit Line 18 Development, Shanghai, China.
The Shanghai Metro Line 18 has several stations, including the Danyang Road Station, that were designed to transcend time. The line opened in 2021 and runs through the Yangpu Binjiang area, which is rich in history. The stations use contrasting black and white colors to create a modern feel while also emphasizing the region’s industrial past. The unique design combines a minimalist approach with historical storytelling to create a time-defying architecture.
The stations effectively blend different eras and are a great example of how transport infrastructure can transcend its conventional role, becoming a dynamic space where different periods coexist and enhance the urban fabric.
Architizer’s 12th Annual A+Awards are officially underway! Sign up for key program updates and prepare your submission ahead of the Main Entry Deadline on December 15th.
Entering this think tank feels like entering someone’s living room, you almost feel like you need to knock first. Designed as an engaging and emotion provoking workplace that seamlessly flows between what used to be two warehouses in the Bay Area in California, this design research company adopts what the designers termed as a “better-than-home” concept, achieved through the selection of furniture, carpets, plants and materials that have contributed to producing a very relaxing and tranquil work environment. The workspaces are distributed over a wide variety of smaller spaces anchored in the open floor plan and staggered vertically across a number of split levels that together enrich the user experience for the employees, guests and collaborators.
From the outside, the two newly designed EDGE office buildings facing Hedwig-Dohm-Strasse in Berlin give no hint of what their insides look like, presenting employees a pleasant surprise once they enter. Inside the “Carré” building, the larger of the two buildings, a generously naturally lit atrium almost looks like a play area for adults, with its design blurring the boundary between the inside and the outside.
The interiors of the Yeahka headquarter office look like an ultra modern apartment set in a futuristic movie scene, with meeting tables hovering over the building’s central space inside glass boxes and the exposed structure of the refurbished building boldly exposed. The rough appearance of the building’s envelope is nicely contrasted with the use of softer materials and lighter colors for the partitions and the furniture, while the high ceilings allow floods of natural sunlight to travel across the office’s atriums and establish a variety of visual connections for visitors and employees across the different floors.
Aesthetically, the organization of this office space is remarkably appealing, allowing the eye to travel across a variety of layers and vertical lines around every corner. Whether it is through the contrast of materials, or the perfect positioning of the working chambers inside the open floor plan, a lot is happening inside this refurbished historical building whose celebratory classic exterior celebrates a masterpiece of its time. The color white, which dominates the interior, sets the stage for the other materials to occupy the space, particularly the red brick walls that stand as a reminder of the building’s rich past.
For this project, we chose 
It is always about purposeful material usage and clean transitions. We strive to design each home within its own scale, allowing for quality material usage inside and out. We aim to create a jewel box, whatever size that may be. The main problem with what is often perceived as the modern architecture aesthetic today, is the patchwork application of trendy materials that serves no purpose and has no correlation to the massing of the structure.
Which elements of the project do you feel are most successful and may influence your future designs?
What has the client’s response to the project been like?
This iconic Science Pyramid was inspired by nature. The team wanted the façade of the building to mimic the hexagonal structure of a honeycomb. The pyramid’s two peaks and 16 facets twist and turn towards the sky as if it was a result of the earth’s colliding tectonic plates. Located in the center of the gardens, the pyramid’s proportions are a inverse of the adjacent amphitheater, made to create harmony between the building and the surrounding landscape.
Snow Kreilich designed the Warroad Land Port of Entry to support the mission-driven demands of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The 40,108 square foot facility was conceived as a specific response to the vast open landscape along the Minnesota-Canadian border. In turn, its form reiterates the dominant horizon of the landscape while making reference to the East-West border. Inflected building forms facilitate intuitive use by visitors, the officer’s ability to survey the entire site, and vehicle access to secondary inspections.
Dake Wells designed the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center as a new “front door” welcoming visitors to Missouri State University’s campus. The 13,000 square foot facility includes a two-story lobby and 100 seat presentation room to provide a multi-purpose venue for special events. Tasked by the University with providing a “signature piece of architecture”, the design solution was made to be both economical and monumental. The building program is arranged in a two-story scheme, placing administrative functions on an upper level in order to increase the building’s visual presence as it reinforces the campus edge.
The design team wanted to transform Oklahoma City’s Myriad Botanical Gardens from an underused park to a vibrant center of activity for residents and visitors. By adding a new restaurant, open-air pavilion, bandshell and addition to the existing conservatory as well as redesigning the landscape, the design team set out to give the park new appeal. The buildings are linked through consistent geometry derived from the pure Euclidian form of the original botanical conservatory. The compositional elements that form the architectural language include single-story geometric forms, white cementitious panels, water-clear glass and extended overhangs.
Desigend as a kindergarten is in the village of Cerkvenjak, this project is located in the center of the Slovenske Gorice region of Slovenia. The kindergarten was designed to be inseparably connected with the natural surroundings of the trees and playground equipment. The concept of the kindergarten is similar to its local surroundings with the rhythmic string of volumes and roofs. Because of this concept, the kindergarten does not surpass the scale of an individual house and gives the user — a child — a sense of home.
SPF:architects took on the revitalization of the dormant Beverly Hills post office site to create a new performing arts center. Built on the historic site, the new project includes a 500-seat theater building connected via promenade and outdoor sculpture garden. The historic WPA building built in 1934 is repurposed to house a 120-seat studio theater, a café, gift shop, box offices, administration facilities and a 3-classroom theater school for children. Outside, a garden and courtyard connect the historic with the new building with direct visual connection to the shops and restaurants of downtown Beverly Hills.
While the gaming and entertainment industry were early adopters of VR, it has been used across project types in architecture. The Suspension House was created by Kilograph to work with the natural environment around it, rather than fighting against it. To illustrate this relationship, their Virtual Reality experience portrays the house in nature’s many states. The user is taken on a trip through different key locations as the weather time of day changes. They created hand-sketched storyboards and a cinematic trailer rendered in real-time in Unreal Engine.
Mixed Reality (MR) integrates both VR and AR. It blends real and virtual worlds to create complex environments where physical and digital elements interact in real time. Here, both kinds of elements and objects are interacting with one another, and it usually requires more processing power than VR or AR. Mixed reality is gaining traction alongside wearable technology to create immersive environments in a whole new way.
