Project Background
Following the elevation of the coordinated development strategy for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to a national priority in China, many of Beijing’s non-capital functions were relocated outward. The clothing wholesale and processing industries were among the first affected. Leveraging Cangzhou’s geographical advantages, Cangzhou Dongshu Group invested in the development of the Mingzhu Commercial City and Mingzhu International Clothing Industry Characteristic Town projects. This comprehensive industry chain has taken on the relocation of Beijing’s clothing sector, spearheading its transformation and upgrading. The goal is to establish a new business model integrating design and research, production and processing, wholesale and retail, warehousing and logistics, e-commerce, as well as entertainment and leisure.
This case study is situated in Mingzhu International Clothing Industry Characteristic Town within the Cangdong Economic Development Zone. The project has been fully launched, covering the entire industry chain—from research and development, design, and processing to sales—of Beijing’s clothing industry. It also features its own clothing research and design institutes. The Cangdong Development Zone holds distinct advantages for this industry transfer, including vast areas of unused saline-alkali land and convenient transportation. The entire town is centered around the fashion industry, with intelligent clothing manufacturing as its core focus. The vision is to cultivate a specialized clothing industry cluster that integrates industrial agglomeration and services, industrial park development, clothing design and R&D, one-stop procurement of materials and accessories, financial and logistics services, marketing, brand building, and exhibition platforms.
△ Project location © y.ad studio
△ Project location © y.ad studio
△ Project Overview © y.ad studio
Design Philosophy
During our initial site inspection and visit to the completed project, the owner expressed a clear intention: to avoid relying on excessive decorative techniques or expensive materials, as seen in previous real estate projects. They also wished to steer away from creating deliberate forms or spaces solely to attract attention or become “internet-famous” landmarks. Instead, the focus is on functionality and real-life usage, prioritizing practical needs over ornamental trends.
The aim is to craft spaces through design, aesthetics, and atmosphere, without excessive emphasis on premium materials or craftsmanship. This building is envisioned as a “starting point” for creating an open, welcoming, natural, and engaging public space that supports communication, leisure, and exhibitions throughout the industrial park. These values align closely with the studio’s long-standing principles of frugality, restraint, integration, authenticity, everyday life, natural beauty, and moderate design rooted in practical context.
Open Space and Three-Dimensional Community
The site includes an existing research and office building in the southwest corner, resulting in an L-shaped plot rather than a perfect square. Our comprehensive planning considers the relationship between this distinct building and the new construction, focusing on flow and connectivity between the two structures.
Given the large volume and height of the southwest building, the tallest new building is positioned at the northeast corner to balance the overall massing of the complex.
△ Design manuscript © y.ad studio
△ Shape Analysis Diagram © y.ad studio
Functionally, we overlay various uses—commercial, living communities, and support services—and connect them openly. This approach aims to create a dynamic, three-dimensional composite space integrating commerce, exhibitions, work, residence, living, and leisure, achieving an ideal coexistence and layering of activities.
△ Functional axis side analysis diagram © y.ad studio
△ Axial side view © y.ad studio
△ Landscape Axis View © y.ad studio
△ South facade © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ South facade © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ East facade © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ East facade © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ North facade © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Multi-functional activity area on the north facade © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ North entrance corridor © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ North facade street-side shops © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ South facade designer studio, materials library © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ West entrance corridor space © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ West entrance continuous walking path © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
View towards the hotel/apartment building from the landscape pool © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Partial apartment © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Introverted Courtyards and Virtual-Real Transitions
To avoid an overwhelming building scale, the design breaks down the structure into staggered blocks, creating numerous courtyards and breathing spaces between them. This interplay between virtual and real spaces serves as the spatial narrative, with transitional “grey spaces” providing natural connections between different functional areas and courtyard zones.
△ Continuous trail view towards the inner courtyard © Luotang Architecture Photography
△ Continuous trail view towards the inner courtyard © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
View towards the continuous walkway from the landscape pool © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Continuous trail looking towards multifunctional activity space © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Multifunctional activity space facade © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Plant growth tree hole © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Plant growth courtyard © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Landscape pool looking towards fabric library/designer studio © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Fabric library/designer studio in the evening © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ View of intelligent workshop from the inner courtyard © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Breathing space in the corridor © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Corridor space © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Structure, Light, and Shadow
Authenticity is a core concept throughout this design. Avoiding excessive decoration, the project emphasizes a truthful expression of materials and spatial qualities. From initial functional layout to construction, the design seeks clarity and efficiency to minimize waste caused by rework.
The choice of plain concrete as the primary material reflects a preference for simplicity and low-key aesthetics. The design avoids overly decorative surfaces by employing one-time molding techniques. A holistic approach integrates multiple disciplines—architecture, structure, and interiors—into a cohesive whole.
The structural aesthetics are expressed in an almost raw form, balancing mechanical practicality with spatial creation through the interplay of light and shadow.
△ Design manuscript © y.ad studio
△ Design manuscript © y.ad studio
Corridor space under light and shadow © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Corridor space under light and shadow © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Corridor space under light and shadow © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Corridor space under light and shadow © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Corridor space under light and shadow © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Corridor grey space under light and shadow © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Designer studio courtyard space © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Multi-functional activity space © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Multi-functional activity space steel structure roof © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Multi-functional activity space staircase © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Internally transparent glass box © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
Central tree array and corridor © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Multi-functional activity space viewed from continuous trails © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Multi-functional activity space viewed from continuous trails © Peter Dixie (UK)/Luotang Architectural Photography
△ Design manuscript © y.ad studio
△ Design section diagram © y.ad studio
△ Design section diagram © y.ad studio
△ Design section diagram © y.ad studio
△ Hotel space atrium and staircase © y.ad studio
△ Stairs © y.ad studio
Technical Drawings
△ 1st Floor Design Plan
△ 2nd Floor Design Plan
△ 3rd Floor Design Plan
△ Sectional elevation view
△ Node Details
Project Information
Project Name: Cangzhou Mingzhu International Fashion Ecological New City Reception Center
Location: Intersection of Huanghe Road and Qiyun Road, Cangdong Development Zone, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, China
Developer: Hebei Mingzhu Clothing Culture Co., Ltd.
Project Area: 26,666.8 square meters
Architectural Design: y.ad Studio | Shanghai Yan Yang Architectural Design Studio (www.sh-yad.com)
Interior Design: Y. AD Studio | Shanghai Yan Yang Architectural Design Studio
Landscape Design: Y. AD Studio | Shanghai Yan Yang Architectural Design Studio
Lighting Design: y.ad Studio | Shanghai Yan Yang Architectural Design Studio
Project Team: Yan Yang, He Maofeng, Yan Yu
Construction Drawing Design: Hebei Jingcheng Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Steel Structure Design: Huo Zhenzhong
Main Materials: plain concrete, black hole stone, wood fiber cement board, bamboo steel plate, water-milled stone brick
Design Period: December 2018 – June 2019
Construction Period: May 2019 – May 2020
Photography: Peter Dixie (UK) / Luotang Architectural Photography
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