M.Y.Lab Wood Workshop Shanghai Spatial Renovation, Chinese Architecture Interior
Spatial Renovation of M.Y.Lab Wood Workshop in Shanghai
New Changning District Building in China design by Continuation Studio Architects
15 Mar 2019
M.Y.Lab Wood Workshop Shanghai Spatial Renovation
Design: Continuation Studio Architects
Location: 1205 Kaixuan Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China
Excavating Lost Craft in City – Spatial Renovation of M.Y.Lab Wood Workshop in Shanghai
Photos by SHIROMIO Studio
Preparations
The M.Y.Lab Wood Workshop is located on the first floor of a warehouse, which used to be the Dongfeng Sofa Factory in Changning District, Shanghai. Adjacent to the warehouse, it is stood a new-built 150 m2 attached room, forming a triangle lacunain-between. The task is to refurbish the 300 m2 one-storey warehouse into a two-storey commercial space, which is to be operated as a wood crafting learning centre.
First Impression
What left the most impression in the site on the first visit was, instead of the space itself, the overground separated from the old warehouse by just the warehouse’s enclosure. Trains pass through the overground rail every other minute or so, leaving loud rumblings behind echoing in the place, as a reminder of the long way of globalisation and modernisation this city has come.
In addition, to the south of the site, a whole block of interior pavement left by a demolished market signifies, as a historical monument, the city’s progression on self-renovation. All in this very place, the past, present and future is gathered and revealed.
As the nostalgia atmosphere deepens, wood crafting centre, the future role that this space will play, is tasked with a similar subject. Wood crafting, as a conventional technique that left behind by our modernised urban lifestyle, is in need to be rediscovered as a piece of treasure lost in time.
‘Archaeological Excavation Site’
This design proposed an implantation of an ‘archaeological excavation site’ recreation into the original space with the height of 5 metres. The main wood crafting room is forged into a secluded space, by being positioned on the sunken floor behind the entrance wall, enclosed by a low wall made of terrazzo.
Above this space lays a massive pent roof, formed by a black metal mesh. From the top of the ramp, sunlight spills into the room, endowing it with the beauty of ritual.
The staircase attached to the entrance wall leads to the corridor on the first floor, where visitors can lean against the fences, overlooking the entire ‘archaeological site’, where the wood crafting operations are on display. Visitors can also work on their projects, or simply have some reading or a chat using the crafting tables by the window.
After the formation of the main space, next is to design its interfaces separating it from other spaces. Three of the most common materials, metal sheets coated with black fluorocarbon, oak panels and white paint, are put in use. Along with the terrazzo floorings and walls in the main space, as well as the black metal ceiling above, a harmonious theme of materials and colours is constituted.
‘Arch Bridge’ at the Entrance
A narrow and lofty corridor is set as the entrance to the main space. On the wooden wall, a series of display cabinets and LED screens are installed continuously. Meanwhile, a space under the screen closest to the entrance is designed for exhibiting furniture works.
Facing the other end of the corridor, there is the reception. High above which, it is installed a set of timber structure, taking inspiration from the traditional timber arch bridge. It also reveals part of its side to visitors’ first glimpse on their way in, implying the awakening of traditional crafting techniques.
Spatial Planning above the Pent Roof
Utilising the triangle space formed by the slopping ceiling of the main space, a two-step terrace is designed into the classroom on the second floor, increasing its internal area. The triangle void also provides a hidden space to locate other practical equipment, such as air conditioners, in order to purify the appearance of the interior surfaces.
Two Black Boxes
In addition, two black metal “boxes” are introduced into the route. One, with a staircase inside, is located between the two storeys as a transportation junction, whose tilted top parallels the form of the ceiling in the main space. The other “box”, functioning as the tearoom, is located between the attached room and its yard as a pathway. Half of the box interlocks with the interior, bringing into the space formative diversity. While the other half is exposed in the yard, with a niche-like space for resting right under a skyline. During breaks, students can have a bit of time with themselves in this nook.
Floating Structures
In order to enhance the visual sensation of floating of the second storey, the load-bearing structures design for the added interlayer has become a significant matter. The solution is to lift up the primary beams of the second floor with only five columns, two of which are hidden within walls. Multi-ribbed secondary beams grow out from the primary beams, attaching to the original walls as reinforcements. As a result, the second floor’s load bearing is accomplished by both the walls and five columns, leaving the entire main space seemingly lightsome.
M.Y.Lab Wood Workshop Shanghai Renovation – Building Information
Architects: Continuation Studio
Lead Architects: Fan Jiu-Jiang, Zhai Wen-Ting, Chen Kai-Xiong, Li Ting, Sun Fu-Dong, Chen Liu-Fen, Lyu Shuang-Er, Zhu Wei-Nan (Intern)
Location: 1205 Kaixuan Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China
Area: Approx. 450 m2 (Interior)
Genre: Architecture Renovation / Spatial Design
Design Duration: 10/2016 – 12/2016
Completed Time: 06/2017
Client: M.Y.Lab
Consultants: Neng Xiao-Wen
Photographs: SHIROMIO Studio
Chinese text:
M.Y.Lab Shanghai
「久舍作品」｜挖掘都市之中的隐匿技艺——M.Y.Lab上海店空间改造
设计单位：久舍营造工作室
设计团队：范久江、翟文婷、陈凯雄、李婷、孙福东、陈柳芬、吕爽尔、朱伟南（实习）
项目地点：上海·长宁区凯旋路1205号
项目规模：约450㎡（室内）
项目类型：建筑改造/空间设计
设计时间：2016年10月—2016年12月
建成时间：2017年6月
建设单位：M.Y.Lab木艺实验室
结构顾问：能肖文
施工单位：张楷荫团队
摄影：SHIROMIO工作室
「设计的开始」
M.Y.Lab木艺实验室上海店位于上海市长宁区，原东风沙发厂厂房一层，单层面积300方，边上有新增的150方单层附房，附房和界墙之间形成很小的三角形场地。业主希望能把原有300方的单层厂房隔成两层，作为木作培训的体验性商业空间使用。
初见场地的印象
初到场地，印象最深的不是空间本身，而是破败厂房建筑旁仅隔一道围墙的地铁高架线路。每隔一两分钟，就会有列车快速从高架线上开过，发出巨大的轰鸣声。时刻提醒着我们所处城市的国际化与现代性。
而在场地南侧，拆除的市场空地上留下的整块整齐的室内地面铺装，如史前遗迹般的隐喻着飞速的城市更新进程，也标记出某种历史的坐标网格。过去、当下和未来在此处如地质剖面一般呈现在眼前。
这种现场的感受强烈而清晰，再次审视这个空间未来将承载的主要功能——木艺学习，作为一门长期隐匿于现代都市日常生活之外的技艺，正像某种失落的遗迹，需要在这里被重新挖掘出来。
「考古挖掘现场」
基于以上的思考，我们在这个5米高的厂房空间里，植入了一个“考古挖掘现场”。将主要的木艺操作空间做下沉处理，隐藏在入口的墙内，并用纯净的水磨石矮墙围合，创造出隐蔽的神秘空间。“考古现场”上部为巨大的倾斜金属网顶面，两层高的日光从地铁高架线一侧撒向这个充满仪式感的空间。在由一个依附于入口墙内的直跑楼梯到达的二层的连廊里，人们可以靠着栏杆，如同在考古挖掘工地现场的跑马廊上一样，俯视整个操作展示区，也可以在廊道内靠窗的木工桌边操作、阅读和聊天。
当这个最主要的空间形态被确定下来，接下来需要操作的就是其他空间和主要空间的界面状态。我们使用了黑色氟碳喷涂的铁板，橡木和白色涂料三种材料。这些最常用的材料，与下沉的水磨石操作展示区地面及矮墙，以及顶部的黑色金属网斜吊顶构成了和谐的材料、色彩主题。
「入口的“廊桥”」
进入主体空间之前是一道狭长高耸的入口廊道，我们在走廊的木质墙壁上连续设置了展示柜和液晶显示器，并在大门入口的显示器下预留了一个家具展位。廊道的另一端正对接待区的前台，一组传统廊桥的贯木拱桥的木构件组合编织在头顶高处，并在入口大门处露出部分侧面，隐喻着传统匠艺的苏醒。
「斜顶上的空间规划」
结合主体空间的斜向金属网吊顶，我们在二楼的相应教室中设置了台阶式的台地。这些台地利用了斜屋顶上方的三角空间，争取了更多的教室面积。我们也将空调等设备都隐蔽在斜吊顶与原平楼板之间的空间中，避免了管线和空调设备对于纯粹空间界面的侵入。
「两个黑盒子」
另外，我们在整体流线中还设置了两个金属黑盒子。一个是从一层上二层的旋转楼梯，楼梯的顶部做法呼应了主体空间的斜吊顶。另一个是附房中连接户内外的水吧区，它一半在室内，构成了附房区域的形式主题，另一半在户外，我们在黑盒子与院落间的门内设置了一个天窗，窗下为一单人座龛。学做木工的休息时段，可以在这里享受安静的独处时光。
「漂浮的结构」
为了强化二层的漂浮感，设计中新增夹层的结构如何承重就显得尤其重要。整个一圈二层只有五根立柱落地，且其中的两根被藏在了隔墙内部，内圈的主梁由立柱抬起，密肋次梁从主梁伸向原有建筑的立面墙体，并以加固的方式与墙体连接。原有外墙与五根立柱共同完成二层的受力，整个空间，特别是沿主体操作区的一周是非常通透的。
Spatial Renovation of M.Y.Lab Wood Workshop in Shanghai images / information received 150319
Location: 1205 Kaixuan Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China
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