Pudong, Shanghai, China
Inspired by an air raid shelter reserved on the project site, Copper Blockhouse by Yu Ting of Wutopia Lab is a multi-functional space catering to the creative industry park in Pudong, Shanghai.
In 2021, the architect, Yu Ting, was invited by his friend Qiye, to design a central building in the center of the creative industry park that had been renovated.
Various possibilities of functions such as clubs and cafés were vetoed, as these ordinary functions were not convincing enough.
Eventually, they agreed on a multi-functional spiritual fortress as the central building.
The form of the design is the original arched shed on the site. The building is an arch, and that’s it.
It was the nautical machine factory that inspired the architect to build this fortress the way a ship is built.
Therefore, the construction of the building started with the keel, which was made of welded structural steel from 150mm to 220mm wide, covered by copper plates on both sides to form the internal and external facades.
There’s a gleaming stainless-steel space in the fortress, the cabin of the ship.
It functions a café, as well as a stage, with a kitchen and a bathroom.
This is the only decoration of the Copper Blockhouse, symbolizing the sharpness of the soul, and the desires behind it.
The grass on the north side of the fortress was designed with a huge black wading pool.
Copper Blockhouse is presented as a submarine, emerging from the water surface like a shimmering whale, quietly, silently, rippling inside.
The rest of the park was designed with a new look.
However, the architect kept the newspaper wall on the south side of the shed, the human security, the big tree, and the rockery.
Each building in the park is abundantly designed, and that’s why the architect preferred to keep the Copper Blockhouse simple.
If the whole park is a partita, the Copper Blockhouse is a silent pause.
The name “Copper Blockhouse” is inspired by an air raid shelter reserved on the project site, a solid fortress.
The architect ambushed a variety of possibilities in this “pause”, the fortress – exhibitions, performances, lectures, parties, a museum, even skateboarding activities.
The café can be used as a stage if the gate towards the pool is kept open.
With the water surface drawing down, a glittering catwalk appears.
Project: Copper Blockhouse
Architects: Wutopia Lab
Lead Architect: Yu Ting
Project Manager: Mu Zhilin
Design Team: Mi Kejie, Xu Nan, and Dai Ruoyu
Client: Shanghai Jiayun Investment Management Development Co., Ltd
Photographers: CreatAR Images
