At the end of 2018, as winter was approaching, we were fortunate to receive a project located in the northern region. The design team aimed to develop a comprehensive apartment building to accommodate executives and some employees working within the corporate factory area, addressing the housing challenges faced in the industrial zone.
This project marked CUN inch DESIGN’s first experience with comprehensive apartments, as well as our initial involvement in an integrated approach that includes architectural, landscape, interior, and installation design. From the outset, the project was both exciting and full of challenges.
We centered our design around the architectural matrix, unfolding the entire functional layout from this core while carefully considering and addressing each specific component.
With nearly 200 residents expected to live in this complex, which also houses a restaurant, gym, and employee activity center, establishing a logical layout and effective circulation was a top priority.
The building is a long rectangular strip with a straightforward, somewhat uninspiring profile lacking visual volume. To address this, we designed several entrances oriented in different directions within the key residential area. These entrances, combined with numbered access points, form a substantial letter-like entrance shape that functions as both a gateway and a wayfinding system. Additionally, we raised a wall at the main residential entrance and added a new canopy to guide visitors gradually through the gray space.
In the restaurant area, we extended the far-end wall to create a welcoming ambiance, adding rhythm to the building’s design while maintaining unity and clarity in circulation.
Anshan City lies on the southeastern edge of the Songliao Plain at mid-latitudes, characterized by a temperate monsoon climate. The area experiences distinct four seasons, with rain and heat occurring simultaneously, as well as dry and cold seasons. Precipitation is abundant, temperatures are moderate, and sunshine is plentiful. The city occasionally faces extreme weather events such as strong winds, hail, droughts, floods, and frost, varying by year and season.
Considering the regional climate, Anshan experiences relatively short sunshine hours and cold winters. To address this, we designed an indoor interactive space with controlled temperature, featuring a secondary indoor lobby. This space enhances interaction and communication among residents, strengthening the social dynamics within the apartment complex.
Upon completing the interactive atrium, the space forms a sunroom topped with a glass roof. Although sunlight is ample, Anshan’s poor air quality results in dust accumulation throughout the year. Additionally, the sunlight is often direct, impacting temperature control and occupant comfort. To address this, we introduced a cross-shaped grille system throughout the space.
This cross-shaped X-grid not only defines the ambiance but also functions like louvers, controlling scattered sunlight throughout the space. The vertical grilles provide privacy between windows, enhancing the comfort of the interactive area. This design balances functionality with spatial atmosphere and form.
This company operates not only one factory with hundreds of workers but also several branch factories elsewhere. To standardize and reduce design and construction costs for future projects, we modularized and detailed the design of the apartment rooms. Each room’s beds and cabinets are arranged to form distinct functional zones and structures.
Once construction on site is finished, the furniture factory’s pre-fabricated framework will be installed into each room, creating a complete sleep system. This modular approach also allows third-party factories to produce components in the future, enhancing standardization and replicability across enterprise spaces.
After completing the design, the client requested adding a soulful element to the space. Inspired by the company name “Tenglong,” we created a dragon-like installation that flows throughout the interactive space. This piece is constructed from kite elements, the most primitive shapes connected to form a long dragon. When the wind blows through this space in pleasant seasons, the installation sways gently, symbolizing the building’s interaction with “wind” as an active participant in the design.
Our focus was not on materials or bold stylistic statements; rather, the design emphasizes subtlety and understated attention. When the project was completed, it coincidentally welcomed a snowy evening. The warm interior light extended through the windows, offering a comforting embrace to everyone working and living here.
▲ Aerial view
▲ First floor layout plan
▲ Second floor layout plan
Project Information
Project Name: Employee Dormitory Project of Anshan Shenlong Tengda Industry and Trade Co., Ltd
Owner: Anshan Shenlong Tengda Industry and Trade Co., Ltd
Project Location: Liaoning
Project Area: 4,300 square meters
Designer: CUN inch Design
Company Website: www.cunchina.cn
Lead Designers: Cui Shu, Liu Xiaoyu
Participating Designers: Miao Debao, Zhao Ya
Project Completion: December 2018
Materials Used: Cement fiberboard, aluminum panels with wood grain transfer printing, New Zhongyuan wall and floor tiles, wood veneer
Photographers: Wang Ting, Wang Jin
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