B.L.U.E. architecture studio simulates infinite layers of circulation inside jiaxing's seed plaza

seed plaza in jiaxing reveals stacked and multiform boxes 

Ten kilometers east of the downtown area in Jiaxing’s Nanhu District, Seed Plaza by B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio unfolds as a biophilic, mixed-use facility, where 20 stacked boxes of various shapes and orientations combine to reveal a multifaceted architecture. Different orientations offer different vistas and atmospheres, with half the surroundings comprising farms and parks, and the other half residential and commercial streets. Meanwhile, roads around the plaza intersect, drawing people together and making it the most dynamic location in the entire neighborhood. For now, the project serves as a real estate supporting facility with an exhibition center and retail space for nearby communities. Eventually, the architects will accommodate it as a community center shared by the district. 

all images © Eiichi Kano

half indoor, half outdoor

Inspired by people’s post-pandemic desire for a closer connection to nature, the team at B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio incorporated 3,500 sqm of outdoor space within the 7,000 sqm architectural volume of Seed Plaza in Jiaxing. ‘In conventional real estate projects, the design methods involving huge amounts of non-indoor spaces contradict the logic of the real estate revenue. However, in this project, the client strongly agrees with the concept of integrating nature and built space, resulting in a completely open architectural form,’ shares the studio.

Seed Plaza in Jiaxing

b.l.u.e. architecture studio emulates a biophilic neighborhood

The plaza also recalls a smaller version of a neighborhood, with ‘streets’ and ‘alleys’ connecting the different levels and spaces infused with scattered vegetation to immerse visitors in a biophilic ambiance. The stacked-box aesthetic, combined with the floor slabs, creates large amounts of ‘grey zones’ for people to walk through and explore freely. Furthermore, thirteen stairs that go up and down break the concept of standard multi-story architecture and seem as infinite as urban streets. ‘The endless circulation makes people forget the existence of the elevators and immerse themselves in the building, roaming and wandering, looking for randomness and uniqueness in daily life,’ the team adds. 

combining 20 staggered boxes to shape the volune

intersecting and stepped layers for exploration and immersion

Delving deeper into the spatial layout of the Seed Plaza in Jiaxing, the building spans four floors organized to emulate a gradual step-like effect, resembling mountainous terrains on the facade. Moreover, the floor slabs are designed with bends rather than straight lines to avoid a rigid appearance. Each box is positioned at varying angles to create semi-outdoor spaces of different sizes and perspectives, interconnected to form a continuous and lively spatial experience. The spaces between the boxes and the grey areas are filled with native plants and furnished seating, resembling communal resting spots in urban streets. On the rooftop, trees pair up with staggered boxed volumes and floor slabs, creating a scattered forest.

the architecture emulates a stepped appearance, like a terrain

Irregular holes surrounding the atrium, extending from the ground floor to the roof, allow for intersecting lines of sight and are adorned with bushes and ground cover plants. Layers of greenery appear from the semi-underground levels to the grey areas on each floor. The tall, open holes serve as focal points, while steps descending from the first floor connect the semi-underground to the square, providing additional seating and activity areas. The large fourth-floor box features a high top wall to draw attention inward and upward, offering a ceremonial and theater-like experience where people feel connected to the sky and earth. At the highest point of the building, visitors enjoy a sense of completion and tranquility, marking the end of their journey through the space.

thirteen stairs break the standard multi-story architecture and seem as infinite as urban streets

a rich mix of textures and materials at seed plaza in jiaxing

The facade materials reveal a mix of gray and white to ensure a sense of art and integrity. ‘The pure and clean state helps reflect our design philosophy of architecture as the background and container of daily life. In order to further achieve a rich, neighborhood-like status in the space, each of the 20 boxes adopts different facade effects,’ says the studio. The boxes on the first and fourth floors use metal panels of different brightness and specifications related to their commercial and artistic properties. Serving as the core area, the second and third floors comprise wood panels and stone as facade materials, exuding a warmer and friendlier mood. The floor also varies based on the nature and characteristics of a space. The ground level features stone flooring, which connects the landscape of the square. The second and fourth floors employ exposed aggregate concrete, while the semi-underground square and the third floor are made of outdoor laminated bamboo flooring. In addition, the outdoor rest areas of each box combine different materials and textures.

Ultimately, the mutually independent architectural form of the boxes can flexibly respond to future functional changes in the Seed Plaza in Jiaxing by B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio. As time goes by, the demand for real estate’s display function gradually transforms into the functional needs of a community center. During the process of partial adjustment of individual boxes, the daily use of other boxes will not be affected.

a biophilic interior that connects sky to earth

Seed Plaza in Jiaxing serves as a mixed-use facility

wood, metal, and concrete blend with greenery

at the highest point, visitors enjoy a sense of completion and tranquility

night time view of the Seed Plaza in Jiaxing

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project info:

name: Seed Plaza in Jiaxing
location: Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
architecture: B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio | @blue_architecturestudio
team: Shuhei Aoyama, Yoko Fujii, Haoxiang Rong, Nailun Chen,

Jingyuan Li, Yuting Wang, Xinyi Zhang, Yu Nagasaki
landscape architecture: WTD Group
facade design: Hangzhou Jiawei Curtain Wall Decoration Co., Ltd.
sign design: Boxi Sign
lighting design: ZOE Lighting Design
client: Jiaxing Shihe New Rural Development Co.,Ltd. & Jiaxing Vanke Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.
photographer: Eiichi Kano
site area: 2,750 sqm
gross area: 7,000 sqm
design period: 10.2021 – 07.2022
construction period: 07.2022 – 05.2023
materials: raw concrete coating, aluminum panels, stainless steel, precast aggregate concrete panels,

facade wood veneer panels, glass, exposed aggregate concrete, laminated bamboo