bamboo louvers clad this factory turned gallery by mitsuhiro shoji in zhejiang, china

in zhejiang, china, mitsuhiro shoji of uchida shanghai has completed the renovation of this 1980s linen factory. the client – a linen thread producer – had an attachment to the former factory and therefore enlisted the help of shoji to transform the building into a contemporary gallery that exhibits the life of linen.

north elevation: the concrete is decorated with a pattern of cedar planks
images © luz images

the main design concept of the project uses the change of light to express the passage of time. to create an architecture that focuses on spatial experiences, mitsuhiro shoji utilizes a limited material palette of concrete, iron, glass, bamboo and old tiles.

south elevation: double skin with compressed bamboo louvers and random voids

the south elevation has a double-skin façade with random openings and louvers made of compressed bamboo. depending on the time of day, a play of light and shadow subtly changes, creating a variety of spatial effects in the interior space throughout the day.

the east elevation

the roof is designed with three rooflights and three light gardens. this is an important aspect of the design as the openings help to show the changes in light. the top light is a cylindrical structure with a deep cross-sectional plan that provides a mysterious light inside through reflection, and the light garden emphasizes depth through the reflection of the surroundings by glass.

east elevation: on the approach, a large revolving door, 2.5 m wide and 4.1 m high, welcomes visitors to the site

the purpose of the floor is to induce a change in consciousness within the same space by switching materials. the light from the courtyard will serve to integrate the layers of materials. the primary concept of the space is to use primitive materials to control light and to allow the visitor to experience the subtle changes in everyday life.

entrance hall: a space that can be used for temporary exhibitions

the furniture is made of compressed bamboo

a sculptural spiral staircase is made of 10mm steel plates

exhibition space with top lights

open seminar room with top light

the walls are composed of steel plates with retractable apertures that allow for delicate light control

to ensure smooth division, the floor level of the seminar room is 300mm higher than the rest of the space

the north façade at night

plans and elevations

project info:

project name: the linen gallery in zhejiang

project type: factory renovation

location: zhejiang, china

design company: uchida shanghai

designer: mitsuhiro shoji

area: 9149 ft2 (850 m2)

main materials: bamboo, steel

year: 2020

photography: qingyan zhu

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom