fountain flow by atelier I-N-D-J & CTHM architects for shanghai windows 2015
all images © seth powers

 

 

 

set within the xintiandi district, a bustling lifestyle, fashion, and shopping epicenter in shanghai, china, is RIBA’s shanghai windows project. the venture partners RIBA–royal institute of british architects–members with international and upcoming chinese retailers. working closely with their retail partner fountain restaurant, atelier I-N-D-J teamed up with CTHM architects to create ‘fountain flow’.

fountain flow by atelier I-N-D-J & CTHM architects for shanghai windows 2015
light is scattered and refracted by 4mm diameter tubing–changing by day and night 

 

 

 

the restaurant is located in the heart of xintiandi; set at the rear of a courtyard that sees heavy traffic, it is often overlooked and passed by. the aim of ‘fountain flow’ was to re-energize the area, bringing a renewed visual focus and disruption in an attempt to draw visitors to the complex. 

fountain flow by atelier I-N-D-J & CTHM architects for shanghai windows 2015
conceived to re-energize and bring renewed focus to the fountain restaurant

 

 

 

thousands of delicate, ethereal stands of light spill from the restaurants upper story towards a large fountain in the courtyard below. 30,000 meters of translucent cord refract and reflect light giving a shimmering impression that cascades across the front façade. the simple, bold installation playfully changes appearance as both natural and artificial light is caught, refracted, and reflected.

fountain flow by atelier I-N-D-J & CTHM architects for shanghai windows 2015
a 6.5m meter cantilever acts as support for the cascading cord

fountain flow by atelier I-N-D-J & CTHM architects for shanghai windows 2015
this installation changes appearance as light, both natural and artificial, refracts and reflects through it

fountain flow by atelier I-N-D-J & CTHM architects for shanghai windows 2015
a double layer of cord gives a moire effect as visitors move past and around the installation

 

 

project info:

design: atelier I-N-D-J (ian douglas-jones), CTHM (christopher taylor, harry molyneux, tim hare)
structure: burohappol engineering (rob may, fan ke)
lighting: WSP (jonathan nistor)
local architect: LP design (leo leung, liu yong)
contractor: talent construction (jason guo)

 

 

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