Wulin Star Exhibition Hall

Wulin Star Exhibition Hall

Wulin Star Exhibition Hall is an adaptive reuse interior space and exhibition design project that transforms historical protected buildings three and four of the former Hangzhou Oxygen Plant Complex into a contemporary cultural venue, exemplifying sustainable design principles through the preservation and revitalization of industrial heritage architecture. Designed by the ZPDI Design Team and completed in November 2024, Wulin Star Exhibition Hall represents a sophisticated approach to architectural conservation that maintains the structural integrity and characteristic details of the original factory buildings while introducing innovative mechanical installations and spatial interventions that activate previously dormant industrial spaces. The project encompasses Building 3, with a floor area of 7,837.72 square meters, and Building 4, with a floor area of 1,784.35 square meters, both of which have been carefully transformed to serve as dynamic exhibition spaces that honor their industrial past while accommodating contemporary cultural programming. The design philosophy underlying Wulin Star Exhibition Hall emphasizes the coexistence of historical and contemporary elements, creating a deliberate tension between old and new that allows the space itself to function as a narrative medium, where the intersection of history and futurity generates a cultural landmark that balances heritage preservation with modern functionality. The technical execution of Wulin Star Exhibition Hall demonstrates considerable engineering sophistication, particularly evident in the installation of a monumental 8.5-meter-high revolving door in Building 3's exhibition hall, which features a trackless ground design and operates through both electric and manual modes, enabling 360-degree rotation while each door panel weighs approximately two tons, supported by a meticulously engineered steel structure column and upper circular track system that employs zippers and chemical anchor bolts to prevent structural overturning. Building 4 presents an equally impressive technical achievement with its nine-ton folding screen installation, which is entirely suspended from an upper steel truss without ground tracks, requiring innovative foundation design that avoids the original factory building foundations by positioning structural supports in the middle of the building and utilizing cantilevered ground beams to support the overall steel structure. The design approach prioritizes the preservation of original spatial characteristics and architectural details, incorporating industrial-style devices such as large corrugated aluminum plate revolving doors and substantial LED folding screens that integrate seamlessly with the reorganized network of pipelines and customized mechanical installations, creating a cohesive aesthetic that celebrates the building's industrial heritage while introducing contemporary technological elements. Wulin Star Exhibition Hall functions as a multifaceted cultural venue that serves the dual purposes of exhibition space and community gathering place, positioning itself as a model for industrial heritage protection and utilization in Hangzhou, while simultaneously advancing the city's internationalization objectives through the organic integration of exhibitions, artistic programming, and commercial activities. The project's public-oriented nature fosters broad community participation, promoting aesthetic education and cultural dissemination while enhancing the social value of cultural venues and establishing connections between diverse audiences and cultural content. The design process, which commenced in March 2024 and concluded with the public opening in November 2024, reflects a research-driven methodology that positions the project as a benchmark for organic urban renewal, demonstrating how historical industrial sites can be transformed into vibrant cultural destinations that contribute to urban quality enhancement and cultural development. The spatial organization of Wulin Star Exhibition Hall facilitates fluid circulation and flexible programming, allowing the venue to accommodate various exhibition formats and cultural events while maintaining the atmospheric qualities of the original industrial architecture, with exposed structural elements, preserved mechanical systems, and carefully curated interventions that create a layered spatial experience. The material palette employed throughout Wulin Star Exhibition Hall respects the industrial character of the original buildings while introducing contemporary finishes and technologies that enhance functionality and visitor experience, with particular attention paid to lighting design that highlights both historical architectural features and contemporary installations. The project's significance extends beyond its immediate functional purpose, serving as a cultural living room for citizens and establishing itself as a beloved community resource that connects past and future, culture and daily life, while inspiring dialogue and creative engagement. Wulin Star Exhibition Hall received the Silver A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category in 2025, a recognition that acknowledges the project's excellence in innovative space utilization, material selection, functional layout design, sustainable design practice, cultural relevance, and aesthetic achievement, affirming its contribution to advancing interior design standards and demonstrating how adaptive reuse projects can successfully balance heritage conservation with contemporary programmatic requirements. The award designation recognizes Wulin Star Exhibition Hall as a tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative work that illustrates outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity in addressing the complex challenges of transforming protected industrial heritage buildings into dynamic cultural venues, with the project's strong technical characteristics, splendid artistic skill, original innovations, and insightful creativity establishing it as a notable example of how historical industrial architecture can be preserved and activated to serve contemporary cultural needs while maintaining architectural integrity and historical authenticity.

Interior Space Design, Exhibition Hall Architecture, Industrial Heritage Adaptive Reuse, Sustainable Renovation Design, Cultural Landmark Development, Historical Building Preservation

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Wulin Star Exhibition Hall.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/wulin-star-exhibition-hall?E=483071 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"