Silver A' Design Award Winner 2024
Luminous white volumes define TUPDI+DLR GROUP's Huawei Flagship Store Tianjin Binhai Road, where a monumental biophilic installation commands the central axis, drawing the eye through a processional corridor flanked by warm honey-toned wood cladding and verdant living foliage. The composition operates through rigorous bilateral symmetry, with the vertical moss wall functioning as both chromatic anchor and spatial terminus, its undulating pattern of chartreuse, sage, and forest green creating organic counterpoint to the rectilinear architectural framework. Two human figures traverse the pristine pale grey flooring, their motion-blurred forms introducing temporal dynamism into the otherwise crystalline stillness, their scale establishing the double-height spatial grandeur. The chromatic palette achieves sophisticated restraint: cool whites approaching titanium dioxide purity contrast with the biophilic greens spanning from yellow-green approximately hue 75 to deep viridian, while the flanking wood panels introduce warm caramel and amber undertones suggesting natural oak or beech. Zenithal illumination from recessed ceiling coffers bathes the space in soft diffused light approximating 5000K daylight, eliminating harsh shadows while maintaining volumetric clarity through subtle ambient occlusion at architectural junctions. The perspectival system employs one-point linear construction with the vanishing point centered on the moss installation, creating powerful depth recession emphasized by the converging wall planes and diminishing scale of the background retail zones visible through apertures at mid-height. Textural orchestration juxtaposes the implied tactile softness of preserved moss with the smooth matte finish of architectural surfaces and the glossy screens embedded in the flanking walls. The compositional armature follows golden section proportions, with the moss wall occupying approximately the central vertical third while the horizontal datum of the clerestory apertures aligns with the upper golden ratio division. Atmospheric resonance evokes contemplative sanctuary, the biophilic centerpiece transforming commercial space into meditative threshold where technology and nature achieve harmonious synthesis.
The Huawei Flagship Store involves the renovation of the historic building Traffic Hotel in Binjiang Road, Tianjin City. It is not just a redefinition of commercial space, it is a symbol of the city's cultural pride and a window for Tianjin to showcase its history, culture and innovative vitality to the world. The design leads people to recall the sense of achievement and excitement at the birth of modern commerce in Tianjin, making it once again a desirable city parlor. From the moment it opens to the public, the century old building will be reinvigorated.