Community

Inspiration – Nestled between busy expressways and construction sites and adjacent to the old industrial town of Wan Chai Tsin, “Forest of Blocks” is a quiet, bustling forest of pure white and pink green; the beveled roof, like a building block, cleverly combines the function of advertising exterior wall, so that the traffic flow on the fast road can clearly see the reception center, and also let the years static good atmosphere and advertising benefits not only one choice but through the creative design, to make both.

A new municipal building and exchange facility complex was built in the town of Furubira in Hokkaido, in northern Japan. The old municipal building had been used for around 100 years and had to be rebuilt due to its vulnerability to earthquakes and other disasters.

The Temporary Shelter and Community Dining Room is part of the Territorial Development Projects Program of the Ecuadorian government in areas influenced by power plants, to cover basic unsatisfied needs, social investment, and poverty reduction. It was created through a partnership between the public and private sectors to address the needs of the homeless community in Macas, Ecuador.

Function. The Nantou Neighborhood Center, situated on the original site of two community service facilities with residential units above, has undergone a transformative evolution. After adaptive renovation, the building is set to embrace a multifaceted role, encompassing a community hospital, community offices, local cultural exhibitions, classrooms, and meeting rooms. This comprehensive approach seeks to not only provide administrative office space but also cater to the healthcare needs of Nantou residents, seamlessly integrating it into their daily lives.

Shanghai-based y.ad studio has engaged in the construction of the Rural Future Community of Xikou, a renewal project that transforms a residential quarter for pyrite workers built over 60 years ago into a vibrant rural future community with a distinct local identity of Xikou Town. The Future Community Center, the only newly constructed building in this community, marks the completion of the entire rural renew project. The project site is nestled within a sunken vegetable field, with an irregular shape. The land slopes gently towards the north and rises gradually towards the south. The east and west sides are stone retaining walls shaded by lush green trees.

Existential Pilgrimage Space – The Meditation Chapel is less a place for traditional worship within an urban community and more a sanctuary for solitary individuals to savor their existence before the divine in nature, essentially a retreat from the city. It originated from the request for a small prayer space for these pilgrims. Hence, rather than mimicking the form of minimalistic architecture, which aims to strip everything down, the architect opted for functional simplicity, which is faithful to the role of a vessel that can hold the visitor’s existence.

Designed to occupy a corner lot in a neighborhood in Juazeiro, Bahia, the space houses the new headquarters of the “Sopão da Esperança” (Soup of Hope), a volunteer initiative promoted by Mrs. Nádia Ribeiro, which distributes food to the community. Built from scratch, the project was developed for the segment “Fazendo o bem, sem olhar a quem” on the Domingão com Huck program, broadcasted by Rede Globo. The charitable activity, started during the Covid-19 pandemic, relies on food donations. The initiative takes place once a week, serving approximately 600 people who receive soups and basic food baskets.

This project is situated within a rapidly growing neighborhood in Mississauga, a suburban city west of Toronto, Canada. It converts a 50-acre agricultural field into a richly textured parkland with a 75,000 sf Community Centre as its focus. The park connects to an existing multi-use trail system, making it a new destination in the network.