neri&hu forms junshan cultural center in beijing with aluminum cladding

in the outskirts of beijing, set amid a rolling landscape of mountain peaks and river bends, neri&hu has completed the junshan cultural center. the project involved the renovation of an existing two-story sales building, turning it into a new clubhouse and sales center. focusing on connecting to nature and maximizing the original courtyard space, the shanghai-based architects have realized a contemporary architectural expression that draws from the surrounding environment and blurs the boundary between indoor and outdoor.

all images by pedro pegenaute, xia zhi

neri&hu retained the existing ‘donut-shape’ of the building and utilized it to create two interlocking pathways: one for clubhouse members, and one for sales center guests. within these two functions, each room is designed to connect the indoor environment to nature. the primary courtyard and smaller gardens play a key role in achieving this, as these natural breathing spaces allow the architecture to merge harmoniously with the surroundings.

visitors and clubhouse members access the building via a path that is surrounded by water. from this body of water, the main façade rises upwards. built in brick, the elevation is clad in warm-toned, wood patterned, aluminum panels, forming a veil that softens the heavy masonry construction. the warm brown, almost burnt orange, hue of the cladding provides a connecting element throughout the building, as it can be seen from the central courtyard.

in addition to the aluminum cladding, the architecture is defined by the traditional gold brick tiles, which form the foundation of the building mass and extend from outside to inside. for the interior, the spaces are characterized by brick and wood panels. sculpted ceilings also mark a distinguishing feature of the interior, as many different geometric cuts have been carved out to interact with the sky and daylight. with regard to the furniture, refined brass metal detail, stone accents, soft fabrics, and delicate lighting elements have all been specified to create a sense of understated luxury.

the program of the the cultural center provides a number of luxurious and spacious amenities for its members. it includes a 100-person multi-purpose hall for events, a generous business lounge and bar, a feature library, children’s reading room, private function room, family media room, a red-wine and cigar lounge bar and a rooftop deck.

the sales center part of the building begins with a double-height reception to welcome potential buyers. from this space the plan leads them on a journey through the media room, winter garden, then upstairs across a bridge over the courtyard to a generous sales presentation lounge complete with VIP rooms, bar and children’s play room.

the art gallery marks one of the most prominent spaces in the clubhouse. this space is equipped with a series of hanging moveable walls for a flexible display system. the sculpted ceiling above gives some visual connection to the upper level, while large glass picture windows allows the space to extend into the courtyard.

on the second floor, a generous yet inviting private dining room complete with a bar and show-kitchen allows members to rent out the space for special functions. the red-wine and cigar lounge bar and rooftop deck on the third floor also boast uninterrupted views of the surrounding mountainous landscape to the west.