American
architects Richard Meier & Partners have completed a Corian-clad club for
private members in one of the largest development zones in China.
The OCT Shenzhen
Clubhouse is located on an island within the 125-hectare OCT (Overseas Chinese
Town) Harbour district in the west
of the city, which has been masterplanned by urban designers SWA.
Like many of Meier’s
buildings, the club has a predominantly white exterior and interior, which
extends to the coated aluminium frames of the glazed walls.
The building complex
has a radiating plan that fans out around the eastern edge of the island to
accommodate a restaurant, an events space, private dining rooms and an
exhibition gallery.
Also underway nearby
as part of the wider masterplan are a range of cultural and entertainment
destinations including shopping
centres, a museum and a theatre,
plus parks and beaches.
Here’s some
information from Richard Meier & Partners:
Richard Meier &
Partners Completes First Project in China
Richard Meier &
Partners is proud to announce the first completed project in Shenzhen, China.
Sited on a prominent island in the middle of the OCT harbor lake, the new OCT
Shenzhen Clubhouse will provide guests and members with a restaurant, private
dining suites, a multi-purpose area, as well as
recreational facilities, a fitness center and a small exhibition gallery.
The geometry of the
Clubhouse follows a precise focal point from which “layers” of distinct spaces
radiate and terminate in a sweeping curve that is seen from the Cultural and
Entertainment Center across the water. At the south end of the island, linked
to the Clubhouse by an outdoor pathway and garden, is the structure that houses
the Indoor Pool and Fitness Center. The simple geometry of the Fitness Center
contrasts with the adjacent Clubhouse in scale and form, providing a balance
with the extroverted outline of the Clubhouse and stimulating the dialogue
between the two structures.
The meandering paths
through the gardens of the Clubhouse evoke a strong sense of the Chinese
landscape philosophy. Various vistas, textures, flowers and settings offer an
opportunity for solitude, as well as platforms to admire the surrounding views
of the water and the harbor entertainment complexes beyond.
The firm’s guiding
principles of metal panel and mastery of natural light define the building. The
shift of natural light throughout the day animates the interior of the
clubhouse revealing different spaces and the crisp surfaces of the OCT Shenzhen
Clubhouse. The dramatic planes and natural light shape the space, mark the
passage of time and the presence of the sky.
Richard Meier
comments:
“We are very pleased to complete our first project in China and are honored to be part of the architecture that is being developed in Shenzhen. The OCT Clubhouse reflects a unique design while the architectural massing, the subtle folds and the modulated proportions are evocative of the firm’s guiding principles.
“We are very pleased to complete our first project in China and are honored to be part of the architecture that is being developed in Shenzhen. The OCT Clubhouse reflects a unique design while the architectural massing, the subtle folds and the modulated proportions are evocative of the firm’s guiding principles.
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