Red Box is situated at the foot of Hongshan Mountain in Nanjing, within the Hongchuang PARK designed by MiSi Architecture. Nestled against the backdrop of a lush green forest, the striking red sculptural form of the Red Box stands out prominently. Constructed from poured red concrete, the “red” serves as a meaningful response to its environment with three distinct significances.
Firstly, the red reflects the historical “red” memories of the era. Hongchuang PARK, formerly the Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory founded in the 1950s, flourished alongside the development of the People’s Republic of China. These “red” memories have accompanied generations, embedding themselves as cherished recollections in the hearts of the people.
Secondly, the red echoes the color of the red bricks found throughout the factory area of Hongchuang PARK.
The Red Box is crafted from plain red concrete poured using wooden formwork, with its width matching the size of the red bricks. This design choice creates a visual harmony with the predominantly red brick buildings throughout the park.
Finally, the red pays homage to the history of Hongshan itself. More than 1,500 years ago, during the Six Dynasties period, the mountain was known as “Dazhuang Guanshan.” Emperor Chen Xuan once inspected and trained troops by Xuanwu Lake here. In the Republic of China era, the discovery of hematite, which colors the soil red, led to the mountain gradually being called “Hongshan.” By 1948, “Hongshan” was officially recognized and appeared on detailed maps of Nanjing. Hematite’s main component, iron oxide, is responsible for the distinctive red hue of the concrete.
The building stands on the southern side of the park’s entrance square, resembling a red stone quietly resting at the base of the vibrant red mountains. As visitors approach, they are invited into a unique “red” spatial experience unlike any daily encounter. The entrance is subtle, carved like a small corner out of the bottom of the stone, twisting and hidden away, leading into a dark red cave.
Inside, a deep curved wall guides visitors toward a wooden door. The door’s vertical ripple texture and natural wood finish introduce a softness to the otherwise solid cave environment. A faint light filters through a circular opening at the top of the cave, while a matching round hole on the wooden door emits a soft glow from within, signaling that the interior is alive with presence.
Reaching out from the red shadows toward the door’s round hole, visitors grasp the upright black metal handle bathed in gentle light. Pushing open the door, the warm, inviting glow spills out, captivating all who enter.
The interior of the red stone reveals an entirely different world. The flowing space is enclosed by red concrete surfaces, while the floor is finished with red terrazzo tiles, making the interior feel as if it has been carved directly out of the stone. Bathed in red light, the atmosphere shifts subtly over time.
The lobby features a two-level ceiling height, opening out towards public spaces on the east and west sides. Transparent glass walls seamlessly connect the interior with the surrounding courtyards. To the west, the largest courtyard preserves a mature tree that dominates the space. Through seasonal changes, the leaves transition from yellow to green, mirroring the vibrant foliage of the nearby red mountain.
A circular corridor wraps around a reflective water surface, where trees, sky, and gentle ripples interplay to bring the greenery of the red mountains into the courtyard’s heart.
The eastern side features courtyards on both its northern and southern edges, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The southern courtyard is home to evergreen pines, maintaining their lush greenery year-round.
Ascending the stairs, a corridor-like bridge connects two usable spaces on the second floor, running north to south. The expansive glass walls dissolve the building’s edges, creating a seamless connection to the park beyond. From the bridge, looking north reveals the park’s scenery, while looking south frames the greenery of Hongshan.
The second-floor spaces showcase walls embedded with circular dots or brick-shaped semi-transparent acrylic panels, randomly scattered within the red concrete. These elements allow light to flow smoothly into the interiors, scattering softly in the air.
Walking from indoors towards the large terrace, the red mountains appear to rush forward, transforming the building into a scenic frame where the red mountains and the Red Box merge as one.
At night, the building emits a soft warm glow, as if the light trapped inside the stone is gently escaping through cracks. The semi-transparent acrylic panels create star-like patterns, blending harmoniously with the night sky.
As the only newly constructed building within the renovation of the Nanjing Combat Machinery Factory park, the Red Box honors the site’s history and spirit. Its “red” color resonates with the historical place name, while its solid, inward volume echoes the industrial character of the surrounding buildings.
The architecture also conveys a subtle sense of futurism, creating a spatial atmosphere layered with complex emotions. The red diffuse space reflects both the indoor and outdoor environments, while the interplay of skylight shadows and translucent openings weaves a unique sensory experience.
This design represents both a continuation and evolution of the site’s history, offering visitors a way to physically experience a “sense of the future” amidst a profoundly historical context.
Project Drawings
△ Model diagram
△ Model diagram
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Detailed structural drawing
Project Information
Architect: MiSi Architecture
Area: 700 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographers: Existence Architecture – Architectural Photography, Sun Haiting, Lv Xiaobin
Manufacturers: Betonbau, EST Building Materials Technology Co., Ltd, VBM Architecture
Design Team: Zhou Suning, Wu Ziye, Yang Ke, Shi Qian, Tang Tao
Door and Window System: VBM Fanbai Building System
Architectural Construction Drawing Design: Nanjing Xinghua Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd
Landscape Construction Drawing Design: Nanjing Second Architectural Design Institute Co., Ltd
Construction General Contracting / Fair Faced Concrete: BETONBAU Shanghai Kejian New Materials Technology Co., Ltd
Landscape Construction Team: Nanjing Hengzi Environmental Engineering Co., Ltd
Structural Consultant: Shanghai Yuangui Architectural Structural Design Firm
Principal: Nanjing Engineering Machinery Factory Co., Ltd
Program: Cultural Center, Exhibition Center
Landscape Design: MiSi Architecture
Lighting Consultant: Lumi Lighting Design (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Location: Nanjing
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up