Guangzhou Huangpu New City Banyan Cultural Center

Guangzhou Rong Cultural Center

Location:Guangzhou ,China

Completion:2023.11

Vanke Huangpu New City is adjacent to Guangzhou Economic Development Zone, benefiting from the Lin’gang Economic Zone and the HK-Guangzhou Manufacturing Cooperation Zone. Covering approximately 1.58 million square meters, it is an international harbor metropolis integrating residential, educational, cultural, and commercial spaces. Super Normal was invited to collaborate with Vanke to create the "Vanke Guangzhou Huangpu New Town Community Center – Rong Cultural Pavilion," revitalizing urban living with a high-quality, livable community that sets a new benchmark for city living. The rise of urban life is not about discarding the past to rebuild, but about evolving through iterative renewal. With 19 years of dedication to Guangzhou, Vanke has developed over 60 projects and served more than 180,000 households. Guided by its brand ethos of "respecting history and valuing humanity," and its core philosophy of harmonious coexistence with nature, Vanke has deeply explored local natural and residential needs to deliver warmth to communities. The design centers around the banyan tree, embodying the principles of coexistence with nature and urban renewal. It innovatively integrates park ecosystems, mixed-use living, and local cultural and historical contexts. The renovation preserved landmarks and ecological features such as the lake island, ancient banyan trees, and ancestral hall architecture, creating an organic and symbiotic community for vibrant town living. This project establishes a harmonious, nature-infused, culturally rich living environment.

01 Connecting Past and Future

     Rebuilding the Lost Neighborhood Community

The Rong Cultural Pavilion, as the hub of the Lohas Town lifestyle, embodies a deep nostalgia for Lingnan culture in a contemporary context. Inspired by the banyan tree, the design integrates the concept of urban renewal with the storytelling of modern living. By weaving together the Nest restaurant theme, it reimagines the emotional memories of community life, offering residents a harmonious vision of nature, neighborly connections, and holistic well-being.

Drawing from the local significance of the banyan tree, the design distills its spatial essence, taking cues from the tree’s expansive canopy and aerial roots. This inspiration is expressed through the architectural spaces and structural language, creating a distinctive spatial atmosphere. The use of wooden structures lends warmth and conveys an infinite vitality. Diverse perspectives reshape the sensory indoor experience, leading visitors on an engaging journey that reflects the unique cultural DNA and lifestyle philosophy of the community.

The essence of architecture is space, and the essence of space is serving people. As a practitioner of better living, Co.life makes happiness more accessible through authentic scenarios, offering a sense of security that’s omnipresent—whether it’s in the neighborhood downstairs or at a café along the street. This space is not just a gathering place for cultural and artistic pursuits but also a venue for fostering community bonds, where residents can feel the warmth and sense of belonging that make it truly feel like home.

Sales are no longer the sole focus. The space now carries multifunctional attributes, hosting pop-up exhibitions, cultural salons, and themed sharing sessions. It breaks free from the narrow functions and layouts of traditional sales centers, using innovative products and commercial vitality to empower the community platform. This approach redefines the "nearby," reviving the sense of closeness and connection that once characterized neighborhood communities.

02 Living in Nature

     A Fusion of Commerce and the Future of Living

The concept of residing within nature seamlessly integrates the vitality of indoor life with the beauty of outdoor landscapes. In this serene and vibrant environment, days flutter with nostalgia for the past and hope for the future. This space is not just a town center—it is a tranquil haven offering people an escape from the clamor of the world, a place to find inner peace and beauty.

The ceiling, adorned with hundreds of bamboo-wood panels featuring natural textures, weaves together an intricate pattern. Hidden spotlights with varying beam angles interlace with these panels, creating a poetic interplay of light and shadow, reminiscent of leaves dancing under the sunlight. The ever-changing light effects across different seating areas evoke childhood memories of lying under a grand banyan tree on a summer day, sunlight gently caressing one’s face. These moments seem to come alive again in the delicate play of light and shadow within the space.

The functionality of the design reflects a deep understanding of modern psychological needs. Co.life’s lifestyle scenarios dissolve the boundaries of space, enabling users to interact with their environment while experiencing the gifts of nature. The design enriches the space with a sense of ease and harmony, allowing it to be observed, used, paused in, and felt—once again emphasizing the value of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

The restaurant’s seating arrangements are flexible and diverse, catering to various needs. There are small tables for intimate gatherings of friends, cozy window-side bar seating for solitary moments of reflection, and spacious communal tables to encourage social interaction and foster neighborly connections among community residents.

03 A Breathable Community Form

     Resonating the Boundaries Between Nature and Humanity

The interplay between indoor and outdoor spaces is artfully achieved through four wooden structures seamlessly integrated with the curtain wall. Each "box" is uniquely crafted, harmonizing with the surrounding environment to reflect the unity of nature and space. These designs not only imbue the area with openness and fluidity but also incorporate natural elements, achieving a true sense of boundlessness with nature.

The northern entrance is a masterpiece of thoughtful design, blending perfectly with the surrounding landscape and an ancient banyan tree to create a main entry full of natural charm and cultural significance. On the west side, the space comes alive with vitality. Outdoor seating for the flower shop and café merges beautifully with the vibrant surroundings. Sunlight filters through the trees, and flowers sway gently in the breeze, creating a serene setting that invites relaxation and complements the adjacent corridor's leisurely rhythm, allowing visitors to revel in the tranquility and beauty of nature.

Expansive transparent glass cleverly invites sunlight indoors, scattering dappled light across warm tabletops. The effect is like nature painting a lively picture within the interior, as morning light bathes the space and floral fragrances subtly fill the air, adding poetic charm and vitality to the start of the day.

The interplay of sunlight, shadows of trees, and blooming flowers shapes a vibrant and inviting space. The corridor reflects a soothing pace of life, encouraging visitors to linger and immerse themselves in the serenity and splendor of nature.

The design of the Rong Culture Hall emphasizes openness and fluidity, breaking down barriers between people and nature. It redefines the essence of modern living services, rediscovering human connection and a sense of cultural belonging. Approaching the design from the user’s perspective, Super Normal extends the space's attributes through a lifestyle + creative cultural exhibition format, providing a venue where residents can freely interact, share stories, and co-create a warm and caring community.

In collaboration with the Nest brand, the design introduces authentic living scenarios to the community. The enticing aroma of coffee fills the air, fostering simple yet profound connections as people sip on their beverages. Through openness and flow, the space dissolves barriers, encouraging heartfelt conversations and shared stories, building a community imbued with warmth and care.

To the southwest, a distinctive folding glass door unveils another dimension of the space. With a gentle push, a captivating "music box" emerges, functioning as both a stage and a meeting point for culture and art.

Through a unique thematic concept and spatial language, we have crafted a community culture that envisions a future of harmonious living. In authentic interactions, people experience the seamless blend of nature and daily life. The vibrant neighborhood activities foster closer connections between individuals, the city, and nature, establishing a shared urban boundary. This embodies the essence of CO·life: coexistence, sharing, empathy, and co-creation for a vibrant and joyful lifestyle.

Project Information