C-CDESIGN’s SIGHT ONE Marble Exhibition for Hua Wang showcases the artistic potential of engineered stone through an innovative spatial design.
Contents
Background and Concept
The SIGHT ONE Marble Exhibition, designed by C-CDESIGN for Hua Wang at the 2020 Guangzhou Design Week, sought to highlight the often-overlooked beauty and versatility of engineered stone. Departing from the previous year’s approach, the designers aimed for a more refined and conceptually abstract design, focusing on the interplay of sight, perception, and spatial experience. The exhibition grapples with the challenge of creating engaging spaces that encourage contemplation and appreciation of subtle details in a fast-paced, consumption-driven urban environment. Architectural design serves as a conduit for fostering this deeper engagement with materiality and space.
Spatial Organization and Materiality
A steel mesh matrix forms the foundational element of the exhibition space. This grid-like structure serves multiple functions: it creates a sense of order, acts as a visual screen, and guides the visitor’s movement through the space. The varying densities of the mesh create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, further enhancing the visual experience. The architectural design emphasizes the inherent beauty of the engineered stone by providing a neutral backdrop that allows the material’s texture and subtle variations to stand out. The grid also facilitates a multi-faceted viewing experience, allowing visitors to perceive the exhibits from different angles and perspectives, emphasizing architectural details.
Experiential Design and Juxtaposition
The exhibition design plays with the concepts of “roving” and “still” observation, drawing inspiration from philosopher Wilhelm Worringer’s theories on the active nature of visual perception. From the outside, the space appears as a small stage, offering limited glimpses of the interior and encouraging a sense of curiosity. Inside, visitors become active participants in the spatial narrative, their movements and perspectives shaping their individual experiences with the architectural design. This interplay creates an intriguing dynamic between the observer and the observed, enhanced by the strategic placement of a large boulder within the space.
Symbolism and Cultural Context
The boulder, a natural element juxtaposed within the highly structured grid, introduces a layer of symbolism and evokes a sense of place. It creates a tension between the finite space of the exhibition and the vastness of nature. This juxtaposition speaks to the Eastern philosophical tradition of finding the infinite within the finite, a theme further emphasized by the interplay between the concealed (the mountain) and the revealed (the stone). The boulder acts as a mediating object, blurring the boundaries between the human-made and the natural, and inviting contemplation within the architectural design.
Design Team and Recognition
C-CDESIGN, founded in 2005 and led by Peng Zheng, is a renowned design firm specializing in architectural and interior projects across various sectors, including hospitality, commercial, and residential. The firm’s portfolio reflects its commitment to modern spatial aesthetics and innovative design solutions. C-CDESIGN’s work has garnered numerous international awards, including the prestigious iF Design Gold Award and multiple Best of Year Awards from Interior Design magazine, further solidifying their reputation for excellence in architectural design and beyond.
Project Information:
Project Type: Exhibition Design
Architect: C-CDESIGN (Guangzhou Gongsheng Morphology Engineering Design Co., Ltd.)
Client: Guangxi Lisheng Stone Industry Co., Ltd.
Project Year: 2020
Country: China
Photographer: Not Available
