Whenever we encounter a new space, we always have an initial impression of her, and one of the often mentioned adjectives is the temperature of the space. Not temperature in the physical sense, but a sense of spatial atmosphere. This sense of atmosphere objectively affects our senses in various ways. We always choose to stop in a warm and cozy environment rather than in a cold and closed environment, and temperature is one of the key characteristics that affect our space design experience.
Every time we encounter spaces, we always leave with a first impression in our minds. One of the things that are often communicated with us is the temperature of the space. It is not the actual room temperature, but rather the feeling and atmosphere that engaged our senses in various ways. Warm and cozy spaces invite us to slow down, while we avoid staying long in colder spaces. Consequently, temperature is one of the key features influencing our experience of spatial design.
- CONCEPT DIAGRAM -
Multi-theme concept map
CHAMBER28 has always been clearly positioned – it's a one-stop entertainment complex for a new experience in the heart of Beijing. According to the expectations of the owners - all rooms have a unique theme, but there is a common element running through it. In addition, each room is an individual with a separate private space for business meetings and a good dining experience.
The request for CHAMBER28 was straightforward – a new, one of a kind all-day entertainment venue in Beijing’s SanLiTun. As per the client’s wish, all the rooms should vary among each other and yet should belong to a single theme. In addition, each room should function as a business meeting venue, provide a fine dining experience and furthermore offer a private entertainment experience.
- CONCEPT DIAGRAM IN 2nd FLOOR LAYOUT - Multi-theme natural elements fall on a second floor plan
With "temperature" as the core logic, The Eight Wilds connects all the themes with various landscapes of different temperatures. In order to enhance the uniqueness of the space, the rooms were divided into several groups, and we selected some extreme natural phenomena at different temperatures to express the various spatial themes. Therefore, the difference between extreme natural landscapes and temperatures, coupled with unique materials and different lighting effects, brings this temperature-themed ultimate experience.
STUDIO8 took “temperature” as a guiding concept, allowing all the rooms to be divided into particular Celsius degrees. To strengthen the uniqueness of the space, the rooms were split into groups, to which a couple of selected natural phenomena were assigned, corresponding to the temperature of their occurrence. As a result, the wide range of temperatures, from cold to extremely hot, offers a variety of experiences, represented through peculiar materials and lighting effects.
- PUBLIC ENTRANCE Night view of main entrance -
- DIFFERENT ROOM WITH DIFFERENT THEMES - Different themed rooms and experiences
Starting with the coldest "Aurora", hard materials such as translucent marble and matte brushed metal are combined with light and shadow to create a gorgeous aurora environment. "Rainbow Eucalyptus" – one of the boldest attempts in this design, uses a variety of blends of colours while preserving natural elements to immerse yourself in the beauty of the rainforest.
Starting from the coldest experience of the Aurora Borealis, the northern lights are depicted by harder materials such as translucent marble and metal surfaces with matte brushed finishing, creating a blurred light reflection. Rain forest Eucalyptus - the boldest among all rooms, immerses the individual in a mixture of colors, but at the same time preserves the sense of nature.
- EUCALYPTUS ROOM -
Rainbow Eucalyptus Room
As the "temperature" rises, it is "volcano" and "blue flame". Although both themes come from the pristine ecology of the earth, they are completely different expressive characteristics. While Volcano uses materials that emphasize texture and touch, Blue Flame keeps a low profile, but shows a brilliant and unworldly feel through the secluded dark blue material. Blue Flame – the product of chemical combustion of lava and gas molecules released by volcanic eruptions – is itself a wonderful and rare chemical reaction. We used blue spherical spotlights to simulate blue molecules, an element that continues into the bar and public areas on the second floor– from where guests will cross the stairs to the second floor, where a large number of mirror elements are also used to extend the space to infinity through mirror reflections.
With the rising temperature, one reaches the phenomena of Fumarole and Blue Flames. Both of them, although bound to the earth, show quite different characteristics. While Fumarole stresses the texture and the tactility of its characteristic materials, Blue Flames stays humble, yet manifests warm solitude. Its origin leads back to a chemical reaction happening on a molecular level and resulting in energetic blue lava. The process of this conversation was celebrated through the transformation of digital blue bubbles into analogue blue balls, spread across the space. Blue Flames fills the second-floor bar as well as the public areas, where guests transition from the first to the second level over an emblematic staircase, extending into infinity through a mirrored reflection.
- FUMAROLE ROOM TERRACE -
Volcano room terrace
- BLUE FLAMES ROOM -
Blue Flame Room
- BLUE FLAMES ROOM VISUAL MEDIA INSTALLATION - Blue Flame Room Visual Theme Installation
- STAIRS FLOATING ABOVE PHENOMENAS -
A staircase suspended above the abstract vision of a natural phenomenon
- MIRRORED STAIRS TOWARDS ELESWHERE DIAGRAM -
Conceptual isometric drawing of a mirror staircase leading elsewhere
- MIRRORED STAIRS TOWARDS BLUE FLAMES VISUAL MEDIA - Blue Flame Themed Staircase continues towards smallpox to smallpox for blue flame visual images
"Magma" – the extreme temperature of all natural phenomena. The space uses volcanic rock and red marble, which subtly expresses the two essential states of magma - the plasma of extreme heat and the stone formed after cooling, and unlike the fiery red and hot expressed by the theme, the space brings more warmth and comfort, which is also a characteristic that runs through this design.
The top end of the temperature scale is set by one of the hottest among all natural phenomena – Magma. Despite the use of lava stone and red marble, the spatial feeling supplies warmth and coziness, contrasting with the heaviness and sweltering character of Magma.
- FLOATING STAIRS ABOVE MAGMA VISUAL - Magma themed video under the suspended staircase
- FACADE OF STAINLESS STEEL AND MARBLE -
Blue flame themed blue marble and stainless steel façade
- CANTILEVERED COUNTER WITH DIGITAL PHENOMENA VISUAL -
Cantilever platform for playing natural videos
- CANTILEVERED COUNTER WITH OPEN KITCHEN -
Cantilever platform and open kitchen
- SURREAL MIRRORRED IMAGE OF 1st FLOOR -
Mirror space on the ground floor
- DIGITAL PHENOMENA VISUAL MEDIA IN FRONT OF THE STAIRS -
Video of a natural phenomenon in front of the stairs
- 2nd FLOOR PUBLIC AREA -
Common areas on the second floor
- ROCK SCULPTURE BESIDE RECEPTION OF 2nd FLOOR -
The boulder installation next to the reception desk on the second floor
- 2nd FLOOR OPEN AREA -
Open area on the second floor
- 2ND FLOOR BAR COUNTER MATERIAL -
The texture of the bar on the second floor changes
- STAIRS DETAILS -
Stair details
- 1st FLOOR LAYOUT -
Ground floor plan
- 2nd FLOOR LAYOUT - Second floor plan
- 2nd RECEPTION ELEVATION -
Elevation view of the reception area on the second floor
-
2nd BAR AREA ELEVATION -
Elevation view of the bar area on the second floor
The presentation of the perfect effect is inseparable from the blessing of the light. According to the theme of each room, The Eight Wilds has specially customized the stage lighting effect, presenting the natural scenery represented by all themes in a more vivid and flexible form, enhancing the sensory experience of each "temperature" theme. For example, in "Magma", the light is concentrated in large proportions at the bottom of the room, with a stage smoke machine, and the change is reminiscent of dark red magma gushing out in the billowing black smoke. The laser grille of the "Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree" is also impressive, giving people a sense of being lost in a mysterious rainforest. In the "Aurora and Blue Flame", each embedded with laser lights that can change various patterns, the "Aurora" projects a kaleidoscopic electric light show in space, like the Northern Lights that cut through the eternal night; the latter projects a blue flame on the floor, showing blue fireworks as the light and shadow change. "Volcano" combines warm lighting and smoke to create a hot but comfortable experience.
Additionally, the experience of each room is enhanced by custom-made lighting and abstract animated visuals curated by Studio8, so that all motion, geometry and color is aligned with the materials palette and the natural phenomenon they represent. For example, in Magma most of lighting is concentrated at the bottom of the room, reminiscent of smoldering lava and further supported by stage smoke machines. Eucalyptus impresses with its grid of laser light, giving the spatial feeling of being among the trees of a rain forest. Aurora Borealis and Blue Flames relies on laser machines, depicting various patterns, where the former creates a radiating effect on the ceiling, while the latter is projecting towards the floor, glaring burning blue patterns. Fumarole uses down lights to fill the whole space with a warm yellow and smoky ambience.
CHAMBER28 is a design attempt to subvert the previous style of Bahuang, carrying a wealth of entertainment functions, and finally presenting a space of infinite possibilities across temperature and region, bringing consumers a multi-dimensional ultimate journey from extreme cold to hot.
CHAMBER28 is a place that is both universal and unique at the same time. It offers a rich variety of usage and services, yet its atmosphere and vibe leave the visitor with a memorable experience.
-CAOZITOU BENCHES-
Bahuang's own brand cursive character head is tailor-made for each natural phenomenon theme furniture
In addition, the unique tonality and characteristics of each theme are finally gathered in the bench tailored for each natural phenomenon by The Yakuza's own furniture brand "Cao zi tou". The bench has a balanced and harmonious design structure, and at the same time, it complements the theme and tone of each space, becoming a humorous and iconic space element scattered in the public area.
Further, the mood and peculiarities of each individual theme culminates into a totem-like piece of furniture, namely a bench, designed by Studio8’s own furniture brand CaoZiTou. Despite the harmonious and balanced shape of the bench, when crossed with the material palette of the rooms it becomes a playful and iconic element spreading across the public area.
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- CAOZITOU BENCHES EXHIBITED AT 2nd FLOOR GALLERY AREA -
Cursive head nature theme bench exhibition and second floor art exhibition area
Project information
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Project Name: Multi-Dimensional Journey to Natural Phenomena - Beijing Full-time Entertainment Base
Design: Eight wild design
Website: www.studio8-sh.com
Principal architects: Shirley Dong, Andrea Maira, Angel Gekov
Design Team: Valeria Pernice, Valentina Riolo, Hachi wilderness design team
Project Address: Sanlitun, Beijing, China
Completion: September 2021
Area: 2583 square meters
Photograph: Zhang Daqi
Photographer website: www.miica.com
Client: Beijing Taiying Jinhe Culture and Entertainment Co., Ltd
Structural Consulting: Bisbo Engineering Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Acoustic consulting: Shanghai Delos Acoustic Technology Co., Ltd
Stage Lighting Consulting: Sokaris
Drawings in depth: Rotunno Justman (Paris)
Materials used: marble, volcanic rock, terrazzo, rock slabs, aluminum foam, metal mirrors, brushed stainless steel, brass, sound-absorbing cotton, embossed glass, colored cement, laser film
Brands/Products: Grid, Squeak, Boundary, Fabrication, Lost and Found, Local Creation, Cursive Head
Construction unit: Beijing Oriental Xunteng Building Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd
About the designer
ABOUT DESIGNERS
Shirley Dong graduated from the School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University with a bachelor's degree and further education, obtained a double master's degree in interior and living space design from Domus College and architectural interior design from the University of Wales, UK, and worked and lived in Milan for many years. After returning to China, he founded Eight Wilds Design together with his Italian partner André, who was good at commercial space and brand design. Majoring in interior design, Andrea Maira has a unique perspective on the brand's combination of visual and spatial. Passionate about the exploration of new materials and processes, he is never afraid to face new challenges, and does not forget the holistic and commercial strategic perspective of space design.
Together, Shirley and Andrea, drawing on different professional and cultural backgrounds, focused on the crafting of spaces from architecture to interiors, as well as the overall design and detail of the visual system and soft furnishing design.
About the design company
ABOUT THE DESIGN COMPANY
Founded in Shanghai, Bahuang Design provides the overall design of architectural, interior and visual recognition systems. Eight Wilds Design focuses on the one-stop service from the birth and development of the (brand) concept to the final implementation of the terminal, standing on the scale of space and considering the process of concept from concept concept to landing from conception to landing from the perspective of architect. It is one of the few design studios in the field of cross-brand design and architectural interior design.
Bahuang Design has an international design team with multi-cultural and cross-professional background, the main creative team is mostly from Europe, integrating Chinese and Western cultures, starting from human experience, dissemination for the purpose, functional as the guide, combined with the trend of trend design concept.
As a boutique design studio, the design style is distinct – using contemporary brushstrokes to delve into cultural and functional details, tailor-made overall, realizable design solutions for customers.
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