Column Matrix, Tangshan, China | 2021

Architects: Field Conforming Studio
Lead Architect: Hu Quanchun
Design Team: Xiang Yu, Chen Songlin, Yuan Hang, Lu Bowen, Guo Chunzhi, Zhong Chengzhi, Bai Yumeng
General Contractor: Beijing DEZE ART Limited Partnership
Client: Dig Zehua, Beijing DEZE ART Limited Partnership
Photographers: Jin Weiqi

The design intention of this work was to create a 'landmark' in the park, to counter and mitigate the oppressive feeling and visual abruptness of the large property development, or at least to create a visually progressive spatial relationship in the park's south zone to strengthen its visual depth. To that end, the volumes of the work need to extend upwards and meanwhile form a cluster, to ensure both height and spatial volume. This is the logic behind this design work. The original plan was to find a relatively higher area within the south zone of the art park and to set a matrix of erecting columns to create the highest point in the park, so as to confront the tower buildings of the property development in the distance. The square matrix consists of nine hollow columns, each of which is enclosed by steel panels that were planned to be 7.2m, 2.2m and 0.02m in length, width, and thickness.

And the distance between columns was set at 1.5m. The number of columns and the distance between columns were determined based on a deduction process through models, for the purpose of achieving a strong sense of clustered blocks. However, during construction, the height of each column was reduced from 7.2m to 6m for the sake of saving costs. This inevitably lowered the overall height of the matrix of columns, but luckily its impact on the overall massing was acceptable as it didn't affect the magnificent spatial atmosphere. The architect thought about how to utilize steel panels and what messages should be conveyed through this neutral material, which to a large extent depends on users' notions and needs. Steel is undoubtedly a symbol of modern industrial civilization, but steel panels often give people an impression of coolness, solidness, and heaviness.

To let the work present a sense of dailiness and affinity, the architect decided to give the steel panels a warm, transparent, and lightweight feel. To that end, solid steel panels were converted into the textures of creeper vines to enclose the column space. To realize that effect, steel panels were treated through a process of laser carving and welding. At first glance, the vine-like pattern may seem to be slightly abrupt on the site. However, in fact, its true intention is not for decoration, but to imply the existence of a possible spatial entity. The concept of creeper vines was explored in the architect’s previous design works.

The scene that creepers sprawl on architecture is very frequently seen in daily life. When detaching the architectural body, the growing status of the creepers can still reflect the form of the former architectural space. Such memory and ambiguity that the creeper carries and the imagery of ruins that it evokes are what the architect is interested in. This work expresses the status of creepers growing freely on columns. The designer 'detached' the dense, solid columns, and left creeper vines' textures to outline the silhouette of the original column space and carry its memory. The laser carving process enhanced the transparency of steel panels.

The twists, turns, and joints of 'vines' produce rich spatial layers. To enrich visitors' experience in the column space, each mesh-like column is set with different openings to create diversified circulation routes and sight lines. When entering the column space, visitors will be immersed in a spatial realm awash with light and shadows. While taking a look at it from a distance, it stands out on the site with its dense volumes that blur the real and the virtual. It presents different visual effects when viewing from different directions or angles, bringing visitors varied experiences. Are the textures and symbols of creeper vines introduced to the site really abrupt? As the tidal-flat wetland is not conducive to the growth of trees due to its saline soil, the introduction of the matrix of columns creates a strong, surreal scene of vines freely growing upwards, which blurs the real and the virtual. Therefore, the vine patterns which enclose column space are actually a response and echo to the site.