century-old hangzhou normal university builds a new campus five kilometers west of the xixi wetland, hangzhou, china. designed by WSP architects, the campus planning consists of more than a dozen independent but fully open colleges, whose architectural style is different, forming a rich puzzle.

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china
central square
all images courtesy of RUIJING photography unless stated otherwise 

 

 

the huge site is divided into several smaller-scaled blocks, which are completely open to each other and closely connected to surrounding colleges. each block is based upon one main function, considering the requirements of an independent managing body for operational management, the blocks are also linked with each other to meet the needs of convenient and flexible use. WSP was challenged to design administrative center, archives, adult education center, institute of hangzhou urbanization, central library, teacher and student activity center, hotel and reception center, international conference center, theatre and central plaza.

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china

 

 

the ground buildings are arranged to the outside of the blocks creating the main square in the middle, and the central axis connecting the subway station passes through the square, a fully open space for pedestrians. the architectural design is based on a strict modular system, which is used to control the plan, elevation, and details of construction of this complicated functional complex, so as to ensure reasonable economic cost, to achieve a high degree of completion of construction quality and to reduce the burden on future operations and maintenance. the system is highly adaptive — the architects carried out the targeted adjustments to the different requirements of the ten main functions.

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china

 

 

 

besides the standardization of the modular system and the most apparent framework of the structure, the architectural image for teachers and students is soft and changeable, reflecting the hangzhou city character. the century-old school is reborn in the new century; the interconnected platform is an open stage for teachers and students to perform infinite innovations.

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china
staggered platform 

 

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china

 

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china

 

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china

 

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china
image © zhang hui

 

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china
image © zhang hui

 

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china
image © zhang hui

 

WSP designs new campus for hangzhou normal university in china
image © zhang hui

 

project info:

 

client: hangzhou normal university

architect firm: WSP architects

chief architects: wu gang, chen ling

architects: qu keming, sui lubo, song nan,qin li, lu fang, zhou liangcai

joint-design company: the architectural design and research institute of zhejiang university co, ltd.

main use: education/culture

location: yuhang district, hangzhou, china

dates: october 2010-2016

site area: 61648 sqm

building area: 161426 sqm

 major materials: glass, stone

photographers: RUIJING photography/zhang hui

 

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: maria erman | designboom