francis kéré architecture: luiazhi cultural creativity garden

luiazhi cultural creativity garden / locus project all images © kéré architecture / francis kéré

burkina faso-born berlin-based architect francis kéré spoke at this year’s design indaba conference expanding on projects he is currently working on including the luiazhi cultural creativity garden / locus project in zhou shan, china.

the site is located in one of the most important fishing ports of the chinese coastline. situated on an island separated by the sea about 300 meters from the mainland and city of zhou shan, the plot consists of a number of enclosed buildings, docks and warehouses, built according to the needs of several decades. to the south, the construction area is located next to a very steep hillside of a small mountain while the northern section is characterized by banks that run through the site. the project is considered an intervention in urban transformation of an ex-industrial space into a tourist and cultural / arts area.

the existing architecture is heterogeneous concerning the many different shapes of the buildings, showing the various local ways of construction. the project considers the public space and the relations with the context and its intermediate spaces to the private use; the flexibility of the areas over time; sustainable climatic systems such as natural ventilation and passive solar energy; and the overall quality of spaces – public, semi-private and private.

within this creative space, the firm wants to provide plane space which can be adapted in multiple ways, with the characteristic to change with time, according to the manners and needs of its users. the areas will be designed to be the object of the artists’ application, with minimal equipment for each creative to invest in his / her space according to their personality. by providing a plane space that is adapted in multiple ways, these areas have the characteristic to change with time, according to the manners and needs of its users. there are spaces of co-existence as part of the plan through kitchens, bathrooms and a tea house in which the production of art is able to find its place in different areas of the site.

aerial view rendering

two modular volumes, P14 and P12, can be used as either one singular space or divided into several independent workshops according to the various programs. P14 will host an exhibition hall and art gallery with a tea house located on its roof. a platform connecting P14 with the mountain creates interaction with the surrounding landscape and will provide more available space for new constructions. a public passage through P14 establishes a strong link with the other programs of the site: P8/ P9 / P13.

the proposal includes two new buildings on top of the P14 platform that offer space required for an exhibition area and art gallery. the first building is situated at the end of the platform close to the mountain, while the second, identical in shape and size, stands perpendicular to the first. together with the three boxes of the tea house, this ensemble defines the open yard on the platform. the roof section of P14 has been cut into halves allowing a walk through. daylight can pass as far down as to the ground floor. this opening also visually links the indoors with the outdoors. the series of individual buildings opens a variety of views, inviting visitors to walk through and discover the diversity of the works in the creativity garden.

cross-section of west elevation