At the beginning of 2020, Xing Weixin was invited by Beige Silicon Lane to transform an abandoned school history museum at Xi’an Texture College into a multifunctional space. This new space is designed to accommodate students’ daily social activities, learning, graduation exhibitions, competitions, and entrepreneurial endeavors.
▲ Previous state of the project © Xingxin Construction
Once the “outer skin” that didn’t belong to the building was removed, the original form of the school history museum was revealed: a symmetrical box. This inspired the designer to explore a bold and intriguing idea—what creative possibilities would emerge by combining multiple boxes together?
▲ Spatial evolution © Xingxin Construction
Designing within an existing building shell is always challenging, especially when considering spatial limitations and tight budget constraints. The design must balance functionality with the overall conceptual vision. To maximize space utilization, the team incorporated mezzanines, skylights, and an atrium.
▲ Conceptual design of the “Emotional Hall” © Xingxin Construction
Our vision was to create a “box of emotional halls” for young students—a trusted environment where they can confidently express and showcase themselves.
▲ “Emotional Hall” © Xingxin Construction
Flanking the main entrance staircase, one side features a student exhibition booth, while the other side showcases two translucent red glass “boxes.” These red, transparent structures are the only vivid color accents in the space, elegantly wrapping around the central connecting staircase.
▲ Central exhibition booth © Xingxin Construction
▲ “Red Box” © Xingxin Construction
The design preserves the original building’s upper structure, allowing sunlight to pour through the atrium into the social square at the rear. This area has become a favored spot where students gather in small groups for conversation and relaxation.
▲ “Social Square” © Xingxin Construction
Project Drawings
▲ Floor layout diagram © Xingxin Construction
▲ Site plan © Xingxin Construction
▲ Site plan © Xingxin Construction
Project Information
Project Name: Beige Silicon Lane · Texture Migration
Designer: Xingwei Xinzhu (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd
Contact Email: xwxz-office@foxmail.com
Project Design & Completion Year: 2021
Lead Creators and Design Team
Main Creators: Wang Zhenjun, Hou Chan
Team Members: Ma Zihan, Li Zhen
Project Location: Xi’an Texture College
Building Area: 1,500 square meters
Photographer: Li Shengyang
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