BLACKhome applies a concave façade to brewery turned art gallery in shenzhen

the new concave elevation has been designed to reflect the round fermenter tanks of the former brewery.

Blackhome edited by nina azzarello February 21, 2020 2 min

as part of a renewal program to turn a former brewery into a new cultural hub in shenzhen, BLACKhome architects has completed the renovation project of the building’s façade. now standing as YUE art gallery, the place intends to become one of the most culturally important spots in the city, and the scope of BLACKhome’s work involved redesigning the original production building in the north portal of the brewery district. the renovated space will be used for retail and cultural functions, integrating art exhibitions, offices and sell-house functions.

BLACKhome renovates brewery façade to create YUE art gallery in shenzhen designboom
the main entrance
all images courtesy of BLACKhome

when approaching the project, the architects sought to reinterpret the heritage and memory of the brewery into a new façade that is both contemporary while reflecting the history of the building. the most identifiable element on the brewery site is the round fermenter tanks, which are just 13 meters away from BLACKhome’s new façade project. with this in mind, the intervention intends to form a new symbiotic relationship between the two buildings.

BLACKhome renovates brewery façade to create YUE art gallery in shenzhen designboom
the surroundings are reflected on the curved glass

the new façade relates directly to the adjacent tanks thanks to the rhythmic concave design, which is formed in UHPC panels and glazing. the glass offers reflections of the surroundings, while from inside the transparency allows people inside the art gallery to catch a glimpse of the tanks at ground floor level. from the second floor and above, the architect uses the UHPC hollow board as a medium between the indoor space and the tanks, making the views from inside to outside more interesting.