Interwoven

Built in 1840, the site was the first modern textile mill for China. After a fire during WWII almost burned the factory to the ground, a series of renovations were undertaken, thus giving it a mixed aesthetic of Gregorian and postwar architecture. Since then, it has taken on a different life as a museum and shopping center but fails to attract visitors, thus leaving it in a state of disarray.

As such, the firm was commissioned to revitalize it into into a world-class entertainment and retail destination. The original layout will be expanded to spur exploration while referencing the efficiency of the original mill—a collection of six buildings positioned in a linear, grid-like pattern. To refer to both its imperial and industrial roots, portions of 19th-century and 20th-century façades will be maintained. Crude materials such as brick and anthracite grey tone for mullion finishing will highlight its mixed aesthetic.