Flop is a renovation project transforming an old factory located on Jugong Road in the Binjiang District of Hangzhou City. The site is surrounded by remnants of industrial plants alongside rapidly emerging high-tech business and entrepreneurship parks. The renovated Flop factory is designed to serve primarily as a commercial photography base, while also incorporating leisure functions such as art and brand exhibitions, retail shops, and cafés.
The original Flop building was a color steel factory with a deteriorated exterior facade. Despite the decay, the structural framework remained intact. Approaching this renovation as part of an urban renewal effort, the team aimed to recycle rather than demolish the old building. The original structure was reinforced, and the severely damaged color steel walls and roof were removed. The renovated building maintains the same volume and height as the original. To accommodate varied photographic spatial functions, two new structural floors were added atop the original high-rise factory building. Each structure—existing and original—supports its own load independently.
On the spatial level, the first floor preserves a large open area, adding only essential indoor and outdoor circulation zones and entry/exit points. The second floor includes partitions tailored to the functional needs of the photography spaces, with small installations dividing the area. Solar panels are installed on the roof to enhance natural lighting indoors, while aluminum-magnesium-manganese panels clad the walls, echoing the original industrial aesthetic.
The two new structural floors are integrated with the building’s vertical space. Seating areas are arranged around the first-floor columns and the second-floor beams, creating inward-facing resting spaces that visually connect the two levels.
The building facade materials were chosen not only to respect the original industrial style but also for durability. Aluminum-magnesium-manganese panels are used primarily on walls and roofs, while the glass is installed with a minimalist borderless design to emphasize the sleekness of the panels.
To meet the varied texture requirements for commercial photography, material changes were thoughtfully incorporated. During construction, natural peeling of damp walls revealed the original building’s materials, creating a unique, weathered texture. This accidental effect was preserved intentionally.
Before Renovation:
Project Drawings
△ Base schematic diagram
△ Location analysis chart
△ General layout plan
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Elevation drawing
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Structural analysis diagram
△ Building generation diagram
Project Information
Architect: House and Poetry Architecture Firm
Area: 807 square meters
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: Ke Jianbo
Manufacturers: Hangzhou Zhongchao Building Materials Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Youban Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
Lead Architect: Zhu Langjin
Design Team: Xiao Xiuying, Shen Zheqi, Yu Li, Wang Wenjing, Xie Wenying, Niu Xinjia, Qi Yue
Structural Design: House and Poetry Architecture Firm
Landscape Design: House and Poetry Architecture Firm
Construction: Hangzhou Youban Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
Prop Production: Zhejiang Nuoyin Furniture Co., Ltd.
Client: Flop Art Space
Location: Hangzhou
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