HYBRID RAMPS
Designing Circulation As A Sequence Of Spatial Experiences
Atrium motivates infinite possibilities of architecture and gives birth to a variety of activities because of its functional uncertainty. In this project, many types of public spaces are being explored, whether it is regular or irregular. Traditional concentrated atrium space is being divided into a series of dispersed small spaces at various levels. Atrium is no longer a large-scale void space, but is composed of various fragmentary spaces with human scale and functions as circulation spaces and social spaces. The theater aims to change its ordinary definition, transforming from a formal performing and visiting space to a more informal space with all sorts of open areas besides the common theater rooms. It is these mix-used spaces with no fixed programs that will continuously attract citizens to come, to make new friends, to find what they want. The definition of hybrid ramps is proposed to connect these informal spaces, rendering a more fluent visiting experience.
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The site is located along Ganjiang river in Nanchang, China. Most of the surroundings are residential areas, lacking completely in public spaces. The design aims to not be restricted to theater spaces but rather offer more gathering spaces for the surrounding residents. It is challenging towards how to take advantage of the specific location between the city and the river to perform as a popular social buffer zone.
Because of the special physical location, the site has to respond to the public garden nearby and bears the responsibility to return more open spaces to the city. Instead of just placing a solid block, the design proposes to lift it up to link the two sides, creating more possible paths going through the building.
The lifting massing rebuilds the connections among people, the river, the ground and generates a more permeable level for people to get access to the scenery. Here, architecture becomes a viewport for citizens to explore, to watch, to experience, which provides them with totally new and refreshing perspectives to discover something different.
The building will act as an interface between residentials with high densities and the natural landscape. How to direct circulation of people to make them more engaged in such an intermediate area becomes the starting point of the project.
Informal spaces are surrounding the conventional fixed theater rooms, making it change from a simple formal space with singular program to a complex with hybrid activities.
Interior ramps are connected with exterior ramps to direct people from different areas to the inside. The open spaces around the three auditoriums are all undefined, which gives people more opportunities to choose and have access to more various activities. It is no longer a monotonous film center but like a small community where people can gather to exchange ideas, hold personal shows and get rid of daily trivial stuffs.
The first floor constitutes of different levels of spaces, defining various boundaries naturally. The overall road systems are coordinating with the existing passages in the public garden, making the design language more tangible.
Considering different utilization conditions of distinct programs in different times, the project claims to be a flexible space where people can actually do whatever they want when it isn't a movie time. The inherent uncertainty of the informal space calls for citizens' participation to organize activities that best satisfy their own needs.
From the artificial viewport frame the building creates, people will definitely have the feeling passing through a huge natural cave with rocks and plants around. The long path provides citizens with an opportunity to enjoy views from the opposite side exclusively.
