The ACDC (Anji Creative & Design Center) is located in Xilong Village, Anji County, Zhejiang Province, a famous white tea producing area in China. Shanghai AIJIA has launched a Tea-&-Travel development project named “Anjihood”, and seeks to push forward the modernization of countryside in China through design and creativity, with the establishment of the ACDC. With a gross floor area of 8324sqm, the ACDC serves as both a public cultural service institution and infrastructure of the creative design industry. The place seeks to bring together like-minded creators, thus jointly generating a happier and more dynamic working environment. ACDC has created a flexible spatial system to enable and encourage the interweaving of multiple functions, while the architectural design is expected to be held as a great example to respond to the landscape of countryside.
The design of the ACDC adopts a more flexible approach, with spaces of different sizes distributed across the undulating site and connected with corridors. Thus the two groups of collective space for public service, co-working, innovation lab, library and cafe can accommodate diverse programs, while sharing various themed activities. Co-working, learning, exhibitions, seminars can be simultaneously held in different spaces. Spatial connectivity is demonstrated both with the fluidity of inner space, and with the permeation between the interior and exterior space. There are various potential spatial combinations.
The architectural form also adapts to the undulating tea fields. Its horizontally orthogonal spatial system seems to be an extension of the city, but vertically it adds undulation to the already undulating terrain. This both guarantees the function of the space, and indicates the characteristics of the original terrain. The roof is covered with plants, as a reconstruction of the countryside landform. Together with the winding tea fields, they form a new landscape on this land, which is not just visual. While the building addresses the traditional layout of corridor-courtyard, it also makes the space topographic. Regardless of the building’s opening hours, people can roam around freely on the lifted corridors of the courtyard, and remain among the fields. The public space becomes part of the landscape, and connects to the local agricultural production. Thus the architecture serves as an extension of the countryside and contribute to its sustainability.