China. An innovative university enhances an old disused industrial site

The project by Vary Design in Chongqing, China, is part of an innovation campus regenerated from the former Central Bank’s Banknote Printing Factory of Republic of China.  It sits on the top of a hill with good views towards the Jialing River. This project is an educational center for the Hundun University, a 21-century internet based university. The biggest challenge was to create a new form of educational space fitting the contemporary context.

Firstly, Vary Design set up the overall strategy as adaptive design, recycling the derelict buildings rather than building new constructions. Then, Chinese studio planned to design the renovation and extension of a building with a unique feature of eleven-continuous-arch structure. All the designs are intended to stimulate the communications in between the users. The main body of the building keeps its original structure and all the brick walls, with a new glass casement and steel cantilevered balcony, forming another attractive material contrast.