The awards ceremony of the International Design Awards of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) was held at the end of September in London, U.K. Two Honor Awards for Architecture were conferred for 2022. The World Internet Conference Center, designed by Professor YUAN Feng of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University, won one of the two Honor Awards for Architecture. This award is listed at the top of all the AIA International Design Awards in the architecture category.
A bird's-eye view of the World Internet Conference Center © Shiran Architecture Photography
Professor YUAN Feng (middle) and his team
The Conference Center as reflected in water © Shiran Architecture Photography
The AIA International Design Awards aim to recognize the best practices, innovative thinking and design excellence of AIA members’ projects worldwide to highlight the importance of architecture. Meanwhile, it emphasizes the role of architects in designing for human beings and the earth to realize a healthy, inclusive, and responsible future. The AIA International Design Awards 2022 / Open International include Honor Awards for Architecture, Merit Awards for Architecture, and Commendations for Architecture, representing the highest honor.
A bird's-eye view © TIAN Fangfang
The Conference Center surrounded by water villages © Shiran Architecture Photography
The conference center contains four exhibition halls from south to north to meet the functional requirements of the World Internet Conference and future diversified operations. The exhibition halls can be rearranged in different ways during large-scale exhibitions to cater to future activities of different sizes and natures. Each exhibition hall considers the human experience and applicability of the independent hall space by making good use of the low, medium, high, and exterior space sections. The designer suspended the main beam string in the middle of the exhibition hall and arched the beam string to meet the space requirements. At the same time, the beam string was open at the top to introduce the skylight, further improving the space quality of the structure.
Interior of the main hall © Shiran Architecture Photography
To speed up the construction of the conference center, the logic of the dynamic modulus system and full prefabricated assembly was applied to the overall building skin construction. The vertically staggered curtain wall glass is glittering and time-saving. The building is integrated into the light and elegant Jiangnan regional architecture in the south of Changjiang River, with black, white, and gray as the dominant colors. The smooth and continuous flow of the building reveals both its power and soft beauty. It has both the elegant and restrained temperament of the Jiangnan style with its tension and passion. It presents the poetic connotation of Jiangnan culture, where traditional culture and advanced structural forms are brought together in a dialogue.
Elevation © Shiran Architectural Photography
Night view © Shiran Architectural Photography
https://www.aiainternational.org/design-awards-2022-winners
