The construction of the TIC Art Center in the industrial city of Foshan, located southwest of Guangzhou, has been completed. This large-scale project by DOMANI Architectural Concepts has become a symbol of the production center, with a total budget of about 180 million yuan. The architects who designed, among other things, the general landscape and interiors, focused on creating a center “with a high degree of academic culture, commercial value, and urbanism – this is a rarity for the Chinese construction sector,” the bureau emphasizes.
The location in the center of the Qiandeng Lake District in Foshan was chosen with the expectation that it would become a new attraction point for local residents. The landscape turns out to be a kind of prelude to architecture, and for this, the landscape route was divided into upper and lower levels. Red ceramic bricks were used to create a sense of the building’s ceremonial purpose. Paved with black gravel, the garden is an open area for stopping and relaxing. The Circular Pool, which is one of the largest man-made waterscapes in Guangzhou and Foshan, has already become a favorite spot for visitors, with an observation deck that extends to the middle of the pool and offers a panorama of the building’s main façade.
The mesh double layer curtain wall system is designed as the technical highlight of the whole project. The masonry effect is achieved by combining the traditional “ceramic brick” with the modern structural design of the curtain walls. Equilateral triangular modules are assembled into a mesh facade. The strength of the installation is achieved thanks to the hidden block made of aluminum alloy.
The curtain wall of the inner layer is made of ultra-clear glass plates with a length of 2200 mm, which made the quick installation possible. Thickened and layered glass ribs avoid open frames. This structure emphasizes the transparency and invisibility of the glass curtain wall, creating a clearer backdrop for the outer mesh curtain wall formed by triangular ceramic bricks. The red brick used for the building at TIC Art Center was created using 25 sets of molds. The production process and proportions of bricks have been modernized in accordance with environmental requirements.
TIC adopted a “passive design” that minimizes energy consumption through a two-layer curtain wall system (clay brick lattice + cavity + insulated low-emissivity tempered glass) on three facades. This system reduces the thermal conductivity of the building by about 30% and improves its thermal insulation performance. At the same time, the 240mm thick side openwork brick curtain wall forms a solar filter, preventing glare caused by direct sunlight and making the light soft by refraction.
Inside the center, there are many installations and playgrounds for children – these open structures, as well as interior items, were designed by A&V. The reception area on the ground floor emphasizes the transparent border between architecture and landscape. Here, traditional interior lighting solutions have been abandoned, and they have chosen to use a light film ceiling to achieve a balance between interior lighting and daylight. The lamps, reminiscent of the weaving of clotheslines in traditional Chinese dwellings, act as art installations.
The materials for the interior are the same as those used for the architectural elements, and this not only links the interior and exterior but also significantly reduces construction costs. The furnishings of the center are abstract blocks, a cross between a traditional “table” and a “bedside table”.
