WAU Design

The original commission is to design a space only for fashion show. In terms of the using frequency, the space would be used only on certain time and closed mostly. In order to have a better connection to urban life, the project proposed an extra public space around the fashion show area, which brings more daily events to the site. The public space includes permanent exhibition, educating and fashion design workshop, etc. By inserting the new functions, the space could have a better relationship to the public and promoting the fashion products more efficiently. The public area therefore creates a connection between the fashion market, public citizens and urban landscape which runs 24 hours.

The main entrance is raised up and connecting the ground floor with a slope covered with landscape. The Serving space such as utility rooms is located underneath the raised platform. In order to give more height to the fashion show, the main showing area is lowered down. Around the showing area, the extra public space is placed on third and fourth floor and left the second floor to public which connects the ground floor with slope. The typical arrangement of public and private space allows the building to adapt different use in certain time.

The main fashion show area is constructed with truss structure and circle load-bearing wall which allows an open and infinite sense of space. All the utility equipment is hidden inside the load-bearing wall. The surrounding public space is supported by the columns and hangs over. The structural design therefore creates a sense of “floating” which have a better connection to the surrounding landscape on certain level. The raised up public area, as a ring space, removes several walls to create courtyards and increase the interior permeability to have better natural lighting and ventilation.