Implementation of the New Educational System
The first construction section of the China Academy of Art's (CAA) Liangzhu Campus Phase Ⅰ in Hangzhou was completed in 2022, followed by the second section completed in August 2023, resulting in a fully operational campus with 180,000 sqms of building area. At the onset of the Liangzhu Campus design competition, participating teams were required to conceive an innovative educational system aligned with social-economical development. This educational paradigm, proposed by Atelier FCJZ, encompasses several key facets that have been set into motion: 1. embracing hands-on pedagogy; 2. integrating architectural studies into the general education; 3. prioritizing research-led coursework at advanced levels; 4. encouraging students to organize interest clubs; 5. abolishing conventional departmental structure; 6. pioneering the concept of living and learning intertwined, which impacts campus planning directly.
Design and Occupancy of Individual Buildings
While living-learning guides the spatial organization of the campus, another main thread shaping the architectural proposal is openness. We define openness as: 1. openness of physical space. 2. changeability of content in space. 3. participation of users, including the students and faculty, in re-imaging how space is utilized.
Studios
Roofed by a series of arches, the open and stretching studios encourage students and faculty to step out of their relatively private environments and engage more in public domains. In addition to everyday research and creative activities, design reviews are now a common event in the studios. Depending on scale, reviews within a class typically use the studio space in an east-west direction, while inter-class or inter-level reviews are more likely to occur in an north-south direction. Exhibitions, conferences, film screenings, drama or dance performances, large-scale installations, and even badminton and other sports are now also happening in the studios. Facilities such as cafeterias, cafes and convenient stores have been incorporated into the studios as well.
Dormitories
As the dormitories are located above the studios, students can descend from their living quarters to the workshops within minutes. This spatial arrangement has also led to changes in students' daily routines, as they can get up at 8:15 am and still make it to their 8:30 am classes. To facilitate breakfast for students, food stalls are available outside the studio entrances. Within the dormitories, there are spacious, double-height shared spaces every other floor, breaking away from the conventional double-loaded corridor layout, allowing students to study, discuss, or relax together. There is also a suggestion for students to design and build furniture for these spaces themselves in the future.
Library
The spatial organization of the library is vertical, consisting of nine towers; eight of them are dedicated to study and research, each capable of accommodating a large research project or several independent study groups within. While the ninth tower is a view-finder, essentially a pure architectural space, serving as a place for anyone to have a break and meditate. Additionally, there are a number of view-finders on the dorm roofs that will be activated by the university.
Exhibition Hall
The exhibition hall comprises two distinct types of spaces: expansive open areas on the ground floor for larger-scale exhibitions; linear, compact spaces on the upper floor tailored for smaller-scale exhibitions and activities.
Auditorium
As a typical lecture theater, the usage of the auditorium per se is specific. However, the program in the lobby can still be flexible, such as a venue for exhibitions or parties. There is a coffee shop on the mezzanine floor of the lobby, and it is open regularly even when there aren't any events taking place in the auditorium.
Gymnasium
The gymnasium is essentially a single large space covered by a series of vaults. Its simplicity lend well to high adaptability. Currently, it serves as a venue for various sports training and competitions usually and also hosts large-scale events such as conferences, celebrations, and banquets frequently. Unlike the typical auditorium, spatially the gymnasium's flat floor invites multifunctionality and its natural lighting creates an agreeable ambiance.
Administration Building
The design of the administration building diverges from the traditional office layouts of double-loaded corridors or open floor plan. Instead, it features sectionally a staggered single-loaded corridor formation to provide rich spatial experiences. The administrative office is designed with flexibility in mind, potentially accommodating uses such as teaching or research in the future.
Activity Center
Situated within the landscape of the Liangzhu campus, this building stands alone, distinct from the main school building complex. It is purposed for leisure and evokes the ambiance of traditional pavilions or tea houses without a precise definition. Despite its modest size, this building demonstrates a spatial configuration that is not dictated by the concrete folded plate structure and reflects a commitment to openness and freedom, a core principle of the architectural approach for the Liangzhu campus, by Atelier FCJZ.
Dialogue Between Content and Architecture
At Liangzhu, there is an ongoing dialogue between architecture and content, which includes teaching, learning, research, creation as well as extracurricular life of CAA students and faculty. From the myriad uses emerging from the studio spaces to the diverse installations appearing in the outdoor environment; from the various projections of students in different areas of the buildings to transformation of the entire library into a continuous screen for the occasion of the CAA's 95th anniversary celebration, these interventions collectively showcase the art students' unique perspective and creative vision of architecture. In response, the architects of Atelier FCJZ have designed trompe l’oeil window frames in the studio to blur the boundaries between the 2D and 3D spaces. We are confident that interactions between different actors in the continuous design process will bring new revelations to architecture.