An intersection of ideas
Innovation Centre by Henn in Guangzhou
© Tian Fangfang, courtesy of HENN
At this development centre for high-tech medical devices, Henn connect offices and laboratories in an X-shaped structure with many meeting zones to encourage communication. The new building stands at the centre of Bio Island, an island in the Pearl River Delta that is home to the largest biotechnology cluster in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou.
© Tian Fangfang, courtesy of HENN
The project specified a spatial program featuring offices, laboratory spaces, a public “show laboratory” and a square building lot. In order to interweave all the different functions, the architects created an X-shaped layout: the areas defined as laboratories or offices in the building’s wings overlap at its centre, creating spaces that all employees can use communally.
A variable support grid
The support grid varies according to the use of each space: in the laboratories, the supports are closer together, while they are farther apart in the office wings. The X-shaped floor plan means that daylight falls into the building and each wing has views in various directions. The building’s cubature varies from crystalline to organic. At the corners of the structure, the completely glazed facade is level and rectilinear. However, the contours are rounded wherever the two tracts intersect.
© Tian Fangfang, courtesy of HENN
Large outdoor terraces
The innovation centre consists of three stacked volumes with incised sky gardens as spatial separations. Towards the outside of the building, the green terraces enlarge in height from one to two storeys.
© Tian Fangfang, courtesy of HENN
© Tian Fangfang, courtesy of HENN
The public areas are located in the lowest volume: lobby, exhibition hall, show laboratory and a café. The middle structure is home primarily to laboratories, meeting rooms and multipurpose spaces. Most of the offices have been accommodated on the topmost section of the building.
Architecture: HENN
Client: Chuang Jing Med.
Location: Xinghan Blvd./ Luoxuanyi Rd., Guangzhou (CN)
Landscape architecture: Hezhan Design
Facade planning: SuP
Lighting design: RDI
Gross floor area: 59 000 m²
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