From ancient times to today, records such as oracle bones, seal carvings, bamboo slips, silk, and paper have documented history and become invaluable treasures of human civilization. Modern archives continue this legacy by serving as vital centers for preserving and documenting social development. They fulfill essential roles in governance, historical preservation, and cultural inheritance.
The new Hubei Provincial Archives is situated east of Huashan Avenue within Huashan Ecological Park, in the Donghu New Technology Development Zone of Wuhan. The facility covers a total construction area of 60,053 square meters.
The design integrates the charm of the Jingchu culture with archival features through its carefully chosen color palette, utilizing traditional red and black tones characteristic of Jingchu architecture. The podium’s smooth curved roof echoes the form of ancient bronze vessels, evoking a romantic and mysterious Jingchu atmosphere.
The continuous podium resembles a bookcase filled with files, offering an ethereal and elegant presence. The Fangzheng archives warehouse is designed to look like an exquisite jade seal, with layered textures mimicking stacked archival folders, perfectly reflecting the nature of the archival industry. This architecture masterfully interprets the ancient Jingchu charm using modern techniques, harmonizing cultural heritage with the building’s functional purpose.
The exterior facade combines virtual and real wall materials. The tower’s stone curtain wall is constructed with cherry blossom red stones of varying thicknesses, creating a surface that resembles the texture of stacked files. By assembling different concave and convex stone units and numbering their arrangement, the design achieves a random yet controlled aesthetic that simplifies construction.
The podium’s exterior features an inner layer of aluminum alloy insulated glass combined with an outer layer of perforated aluminum panels that imitate stone, providing shading while maintaining the facade’s textured appearance. This design balances the building’s aesthetic with its functional needs for natural lighting and ventilation. The facade appears seamless from the outside, while inside it resembles a layered window screen.
The design employs a flexible use of fuzzy space and multifunctionality by introducing a vast 17m by 46m gray area in front of the podium’s main entrance. This space abstractly represents traditional building eaves and creates a transitional zone with ambiguous indoor and outdoor spatial qualities. The expansive gray area exudes grandeur, romance, and majesty.
This transitional space serves as a buffer between the outdoor bustle and the tranquil cultural atmosphere indoors. It acts as a shaded entrance corridor, protecting the main hall from direct sunlight. During events, this semi-outdoor area can host archival exhibitions, trade shows, opening ceremonies, academic presentations, youth performances, and educational lectures.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fifth Floor Plan
△ Plans for Floors 6–14
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Detailed Drawing
Project Information
Architect: Zhongnan Architectural Design Institute
Area: 60,053 m²
Project Year: 2022
Photographer: Zhao Yilong
Manufacturers: Wuhan Hongmeida Curtain Wall Building Materials Co., Ltd., Hubei Tuomao Construction Engineering Co., Ltd., Yaopi Glass Group
Principal Architects: Zhang Songmin, Yang Jiangfeng
Design Team: Zhang Songmin, Yang Jiangfeng, Wu Bingjiang, Wan Qing, Li Li, Lu Ju’an
Structural Design: Gong Zhanyu, Ge Xiang, Shu Xiaoling, Chi Bibo
Water Supply and Drainage Design: Li Dongmei, Li Xinguo, Yu Manrong
HVAC Design: Ye Xin, Liu Huabin, Zhang Di
Electrical Design: Rong Hao, Wang Yan, Chen Fan
Estimation: Yu Xiangwen
Curtain Wall Design: Wang Shuhua, Tong Chaohua
Interior Design: Li Wei
Landscape Design: Shen Yehao
Lighting Design: Deng Shichao
Construction Party: China Construction Third Engineering Group Co., Ltd
Client: Hubei Provincial Archives
Location: Wuhan
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