For this project anySCALE was asked by SOHO China to update their welcome building for the Commune by the Great Wall. Commune by the Great Wall is a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12 Asian architects, located near an untouched part of the Great Wall. It was exhibited at the 2002 la Biennale di Venezia and bestowed a special prize.
The renovations were divided into two areas; reception on the first floor and exhibition area on the second floor. For the first floor we updated their reception desk with a longer, more contemporary design and also updated the lounge furniture and furnishings. For the back wall of the lounge area we created a floor-to-ceiling reflective black glass surface. The glass was etched with a single line in the shape of an outline of the surrounding mountains. The entire wall was lit from behind, making for an eye-catching design element for visitors arriving at reception. The second floor was divided into two exhibition rooms. The first was for visitors to view the story of the Commune. Glass panels with printed images of the surrounding mountainside line the walls of the space, and custom-made light boxes for displaying pictures and video hang from the ceiling. The second exhibition space was dedicated to temporary exhibitions.
