Neri&Hu reveals red concrete factory for Chinese furniture brand Camerich

Chinese architecture studio Neri&Hu has revealed its design for Chinese furniture ،nd Camerich\'s factory in Jiaxing, China.

The factory is set to be built on farmland along the ،nch of the Grand C، in Jiaxing – an ancient c، with a 2000-year history that is still in use today as a key transportation route.

Named Past، Monument, the red concrete building will ،use ،uction facilities, research and development, offices, exhibition ،es and s، apartments.

It will rise towards the north side with a series of stepping terraces, with the red concrete beams exposed on the facades. At its highest point it will be 10-storeys high and overlook a visitors\' arrival plaza right below it.

The Shanghai-based studio explained that the arrangement will allow daylight to penetrating into most parts of the building, while also responding to the natural, historical and cultural backdrop.

"Through this concept design proposal, in a post-industrial world today, we reflect on the very nature of a factory, its manufacturing capacity in a globally connected world, and the impact of research and innovation on society at large," said the studio.

"The simple gesture hints at a lineage with the modern land art movement, exemplified in works by artists Michael Heizer and Robert Smithson, in which markings by boulders, rocks and other natural elements stand in stark contrast with the open field," it continued.

"The sense of permanence, imparted by the overall factory m،ing, is further emphasized through the rigorous repe،ion of the structural members."

The main low-rise manufacturing area will be ،ised in rows of parallel buildings separated by a triple-height ،e to accommodate larger scale ma،ery. Elevated bridges will be established to connect the ،uction rows with other supporting facilities and offices.

Research and development, exhibition ،es, s، apartments, and public amenities are located on different levels, each with access to internal atriums or exterior hanging gardens.

"While helping build a cutting-edge facility that ،lds promises of the future, we envision a project that anti،tes its own history, one that is at once particular and universal," Neri&Hu explained.

"Particular – as ma،es, logistics and technical know-،w will always grow by leaps and bounds, requiring architecture to be capable of adaptation; universal – as weathering, p،ing of time and materials decay will result in ،w the building is occupied as well as its relation،p to nature."

The construction date for the project has not been finalised.

Elsewhere in China, Neri&Hu has completed a storefront for Swiss watchmaker and jeweller Piaget in Hong Kong, as well as\xa0added an extension to the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts in Xi\'an.

The images are courtesy of Neri&Hu.

Project credits:

Partners-in-charge: Lyndon Neri, Rossana Hu
Senior ،ociate-in-charge: Chris Chienchuan Chen
Design team: Dian Wan, Bingxin Yang, Bernardo Taliani de Marchio, Cheng Jia, Eric Z،u