Page 81 - Designing Ways 266

Building the “Village Light” from the inside out
The original village committee building was comprised of five
single-storey arches and porches, sloping roofs, and brick walls,
which were previously somewhat hidden from the villagers - but the
rhythm created by the repeated arches provided the architect with
inspiration. Taking the arches as a starting point, SYN Architects
has expanded their scale on the northeast extension of the original
arches, establishing a connection to form a series of trumpet-shaped
volumes, with the roof and walls formed by a thin, curving concrete
shell structure. In addition to the enlargement of the original five
arches, the architect has also created an arched volume with a similar
scale along the wall facing the street, creating a public space adjacent
to the building, and providing a welcoming entrance for visitors.

Extending from the main body of the building towards its outer edge, the
six groups of arched shells form a series of angular-shaped spaces next to
one another. Due to being raised on their outer sides and being lowered
on their inner sides, they present a problem for this type of structure -
water drainage is difficult and snow can easily accumulate in the winter.
To solve this issue, the architect covered the concrete shells with a row of
flat triangular skylights, which re-route the flow of rainwater and facilitate
the placing of drainage pipes within the structure below; the skylights
also introduce natural illumination to the building’s spaces, emphasizing
the shape and form of the "arch", and bringing a rich interplay of light
and shadow onto their curved surfaces.

Through this project, the largely unnoticed formal features of the
original building have been redefined by the architect and re-
imagined as the architectural language of the new building, with the
flat, arched openings having been extended into a three-dimensional
spatial prototype. The new and the old, the pragmatic and the
innovative, can be seen here to collide, with the result being a series
of brilliant new communal spaces for the Village, radiating energy
and activity from the inside out.

The communal countryside and a new mutual regard
The northeast side of the building, facing the countryside, is
comprised of a large facade of floor-to-ceiling glass which, together
with the shapes of the arches, forms a striking architectural presence
looking outwards to the landscape. All seats in the Village History
Exhibition Hall area on the first floor are oriented towards the
windows, looking out at the magnificent mountain scenery and
earth art in the distance. Internally, the "reception room" provides a
space for "new farmers" to converse with long-term villagers, while
externally, it integrates with the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Standing outside the building and looking in, one can clearly see how
the walls form a forced perspective and appear to “shrink” on the
interior, and how the new structure’s presence is visible throughout
the pre-existing building.

The "arch" as an architectural motif is taken from the exterior of
the building, and strengthened and continued indoors: arched
timber structural members are implemented in the "Village History
Exhibition Hall" and are continued in the coffee shop and children's
activity area, creating a sense of place for both spaces, and combining
with other features such as shelving units for books. Additionally, the
architects have illuminated the ground on the exterior, echoing the
lights projected onto the arches to create a luminous effect when seen
from afar. The “arch" has thus become a coherent element of both
the architecture and the interior. It forms a visually striking rhythm

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