▲ Liwan Tea Jiao Life Experience Hall
▲ Project location © XAA Architecture Firm
Liwan plays a crucial role in the integrated and innovative industrial development of the Guangfo region. It is also a key area for the high-quality integration of Guangfo’s development. As a significant urban renewal initiative within the Guangfo connection zone, the Huadi Riverside plot in Chajiao is currently undergoing transformation, injecting fresh vitality into Chajiao’s growth.
▲ Project location © XAA Architecture Firm
▲ Physical model
The Chajiao Life Experience Hall is situated in Guangzhou’s Liwan District, at the intersection of Chajiao Road and Huadiwan. This facility supports the urban renewal efforts in Chajiao by addressing city functional needs while offering an open living plaza for local residents.
▲ Liwan Tea Jiao Life Experience Hall
01 Hidden City
In our fast-moving modern world, the city’s hustle often leaves people longing for a sanctuary for their souls. Our aim has been to recreate the harmonious and warm living environments of the past within the urban context, encouraging reflection on urban development and fostering care for people’s everyday lives.
▲ Design Manuscript © Zhan Tao
▲ Liwan Tea Jiao Life Experience Hall
▲ Physical model
02 Integration of Grey Space and Local Culture
This project employs modern techniques to reinterpret the grey spaces characteristic of traditional Lingnan architecture, preserving the local culture and everyday life scenes of Chajiao. Emphasizing diversity and experiential richness, the design transforms architectural landscapes with a focus on creating authentic living environments.
▲ Liwan Tea Jiao Life Experience Hall
The spatial design draws inspiration from traditional Lingnan architectural elements such as “arcades,” “streets and alleys,” “stages,” and “roofs.” Functional building blocks are stacked and combined, creating grey spaces of varying scales along pedestrian circulation paths. The roof structure system incorporates traditional Lingnan wooden frames, reimagined with modern architectural techniques, breaking spatial boundaries while respecting local regional characteristics.
▲ Liwan Tea Jiao Life Experience Hall
The first-floor coffee shop and the preserved banyan tree on site create a welcoming vestibule space that evokes tranquility, comfort, and a connection with nature.
▲ First floor of the experience hall
The atrium features a staircase theater with resting platforms set along the steps, enhancing its multifunctionality. This versatile space can serve as an exhibition hall, theater, library, café, or adapt to other uses based on demand, allowing for continual spatial regeneration.
▲ Courtyard Space
The grey space’s highlight is the roof area. The space between the functional building blocks and the roof truss has been transformed into an open-air or semi-outdoor bar counter, offering pedestrians a place to rest, gather, and dine.
▲ Roof Space
Ascending the rooftop staircase leads to a viewing platform at the highest point of the building, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
▲ Roof viewing platform
▲ Physical model
03 Structure – Exposed Installation Art
The roof’s structural system is composed of modular roof units arranged on a 7.2 by 6.8 meter grid. Three types of roof modules are combined to regulate outdoor sunlight, ensuring comfortable lighting conditions.
▲ Physical model
▲ Roof structure
The design maximizes architectural authenticity by treating the structure as a flexible, ever-evolving framework—much like a city itself. This approach dissolves the barriers between indoor and outdoor spaces, crafting a unique and dynamic layout. The modular roof units enable seamless integration between the structural framework and the curtain wall.
Project Drawings
▲ General layout plan © XAA Architecture Firm
▲ First floor plan © XAA Architecture Firm
▲ Second floor plan © XAA Architecture Firm
▲ Sectional view © XAA Architecture Firm
Project Overview
Project Name: Liwan Chajiao Life Experience Hall
Location: Liwan District, Guangzhou City
Design Period: June 2021
Completion Date: August 2022
Land Area: 3,238 square meters
Building Area: 2,065 square meters
Architectural Design: Zhan Tao Studio, XAA Architecture Firm
Principal Architects: Hong Huaijie, Ding Yi
Design Team: Tian Wang, Hong Huaijie, Ding Yi, Fang Guimin
Owner: Guangzhou Chajiao Real Estate Development Co., Ltd
Owner Design Management Team: Zhong Yi, Zeng Tianzhao, Sheng Xiuxiu, Deng Yucheng, Yin Lihua, Chen Zhize, He Qiangjun
Construction Drawing: Guangzhou Baoxian Huahan Architectural Engineering Design Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: Guangzhou Yijing Landscape Design Co., Ltd
Interior Design: Matrix Zongheng Design Co., Ltd
Flood Lighting Design: Matrix Zongheng Design Co., Ltd
Curtain Wall Design: Guangzhou Ninglong Engineering Technology Consulting Co., Ltd
Photography: Chill Shine, Qiu Wensanying, Guangzhou Shanren Cultural Development Co., Ltd
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