Awaken the stagnant time.
The beauty of time lies in its inevitable passage—spring flowers, autumn moon, summer sun, and winter snow.
——Sanmao
This project is located in Binjiang District, Hangzhou City, on the site of the former Hangzhou Shuangyu Stainless Steel Factory. Although it may not be as “ancient” as cultural relics, it still reflects the spirit of its era. The factory dormitories, production buildings, water towers, and washbasins—while their ruins are smaller than before—they continue to bear the marks of industrialization. They have witnessed the city’s transformation and prosperity, as well as the shift of the economic center from industry to the Internet.
The washbasin, once part of a stainless steel factory, now serves as a commemorative symbol of a bygone era. © yuuuunstudio
△ Aerial view of the project © yuuuunstudio
Dissolve, reshape, and coexist. This philosophy guided the project logic: neither a complete overhaul nor preserving everything as is, but integrating the past with current cultural styles and needs.
As a rising industry in the digital age, Hangzhou is the birthplace of the nation’s online retail business district. Photography plays a competitive role in the commercial retail model and serves as a carrier of Internet development. After a four-month design cycle, the factory has been given a new lease on life. Thus, “Moments” was born.
Resolve
The factory dormitories and buildings have remained untouched since the 1990s, making time seem frozen here. Every detail carries the imprint of its era. We restored well-preserved structures, cleared irreparable parts, reinforced foundations, and maintained the overall architectural character of that time.
△ Photos before renovation © Three Orange Lihe Space Design
△ Photos before renovation © Three Orange Lihe Space Design
Reshape
To convey the fluidity of time within the space, while preserving the unity of the factory building and ensuring the uniqueness of each scene for photography, the factory dormitory was divided into two separate areas. Diverse settings such as cafes, bars, boutiques, and exhibition halls were created to meet the varied atmosphere and mood requirements of different models.
The entrance of the boutique complements the indoor spiral staircase, with soft curves flowing throughout the building. © yuuuunstudio
Symbiosis
The factory’s water tower was preserved as a symbol of the Pisces stainless steel plant. The staircase gracefully descends with soft curves, blending the old and new, connecting past and present. This juxtaposition creates a unique spatial atmosphere through the fusion of contrasting architectural elements.
The coarse-grained textured paint envelops the original factory’s old bricks, harmonizing with the present era while continuing the legacy of the past. The brick walls link history with today, beneath their calm surface lies raw, vibrant energy. Hard materials shape soft forms, intersecting with the preserved wooden structures. Modern materials and historic aesthetics collide, wrap, and blend in one space, creating a dialogue that intertwines time and place.
Indoor café © yuuuunstudio
Soft curves intertwine within the space, creating a striking contrast with the exposed steel structure and weathered walls. This forms the unique brand identity and spatial rhythm of Moments. This land holds stories of the past, and now countless new moments unfold here.
△ Details © yuuuunstudio
Past, present, and future are all defined by time. When the future arrives, our present becomes the past. While we cannot stop some historical traces from fading, we can document and preserve what we have now.
Technical Drawings
△ Overall plan of Photography Base © Three Orange Lihe Space Design
△ Building block segmentation diagram © Three Orange Lihe Space Design
Project Information
Project Name: Moments Photography Base
Project Location: No. 52 Changjiang Middle Road, Changhe Street, Binjiang District, Hangzhou City
Building Area: 1800 m²
Design Period: September 2019
Completion: November 2020
Design Agency: Three Orange Lihe Space Design | TRI-ORANGE DESIGN (www.sclhdesign.com)
Design Team: He Libin, Huang Chen, Chen Chunyang, Wang Haiyang, Hu Shengxia, Zhu Bin, Wang Sijia
Project Photography: Yunmian Photography Studio | yuuuunstudio
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