Spark: Fuzhou Wusibei Thaihot Plaza

Spark Architects designed the retail mall Fuzhou Wusibei Thaihot Plaza like a continuous circulation route with a colour shifting aluminium panels on the facade.

Spark’s design for the Fuzhou Wusibei Thaihot Plaza entwines the plaza, the street and the mall interior into a continuous circulation route that transforms the building into a living entity full of movement and energy.

12-hour daytime retail activities are concentrated in a 7-level shopping mall from which routes to the rooftop are carved out. Here various activities such as full service dining and cinema effectively create 24-hour traffic-free streets and squares attracting visitors not only to shop but also enjoy as a new social and entertainment destination.

Spark: Fuzhou Wusibei Thaihot Plaza — Spark Architects, Fuzhou Wusibei Thaihot Plaza, Fuzhou, China

The many facets of the building exist to serve different functions in plan and the building facade. Easing the edges of the building in plan increases sightlines into the pedestrian street, which helps draws people in. Unlike some straight streets that shoot pedestrians quickly through, an undulating tenant facade facilitates the natural ebb and flow of pedestrian traffic, creating a dynamic shopping experience.

Colour shifting aluminium panels on the facade creates an exterior appearance that is constantly changing. While most panels are the building skin, select facets serve key visual functions such as illuminated signage boxes, advertisements, and three LED screens. At night, perforations in the aluminium panels allow light to pass through to create a starry night effect.

Spark Architects, Fuzhou Wusibei Thaihot Plaza, Fuzhou, China

The typical mall typology locates functions such as cinemas & KTV at upper levels of malls. These functions operate into the early hours of the morning long past the closing time of other retail facilities necessitating the public to navigate a difficult journey down out of darkened non air conditioned space. To mitigate this dilemma, Fuzhou Wusibei Thaihot Plaza has two complementary circulation routes, a 12 hour day route and a 24 hour route. Retail programs that operate in the day are consolidated into a shopping mall podium typology (12 hour). Circulation routes and terraces are carved out of the podium facilitating access to the roof top where there are a variety of activities such as miniature golf and full service dining can be found (24 hour).