Drum Tower

Spotlights on the facade create wavy patches of light, giving the entire building a flowing softness. Simultaneously, a rectangular dark-colored block on one side breaks up this pure softness, allowing the classical softness of the Drum Tower to blend better with the modern hard buildings surrounding it. Moreover, the rectangular body is slightly taller than other areas, creating a contrast in volume that stabilizes the entire building, imparting a calm and steady temperament to the structure.

This façade renovation design proposal aims to repair the aging façade of the Gulou Hotel by adding veneer, external skin and lighting, so as to fit in with the texture and cultural pulse of the Gulou neighbourhood. At the same time, it serves as a transition between the old Gulou street and the surrounding modern buildings. The proposal meets the privacy needs of the tourists and improves the soundproofing of the hotel facade, while at the same time unifying the facade. The original building's need for advertising on the façade has also been taken into account.

Cultural Reserve Facade Renovation

Rhyme & Contrast

Drum Tower Street, as a tourist attraction, experiences a high flow of people. Therefore, the windows of the hotel are covered with folding wooden panels and double-glazed curtain walls. This optimizes the soundproofing effect of the facade while improving interior privacy and unifying the facade's appearance. The wooden folding panels can be opened to allow in light when needed. Simultaneously, occupants can alter the facade's configuration through their behavior, enhancing the sense of human participation in the building.

The original building featured larger billboards on its exterior walls. To maintain this function while standardizing the facade's appearance, a series of spotlights were installed at the joints of the glass envelope. This arrangement allows advertisements to be projected onto the wooden veneer as needed. Through this approach, the original function is preserved, while simultaneously simplifying and organizing the facade.

Stylistic Unity of the Cultural Lineage

Functionality Preservation

The building is located at the junction of the ancient street of the Drum Tower and the modern building area, which is an important link connecting the two areas. In order to reflect the blend of ancient and modern, the new façade is made of wood veneer with louvered glass, which is combined with external lighting and spotlights to create a variety of light changes, blending ancient and modern design elements, in line with the location of the site, which connects the Drum Tower with the modern commercial area.

The building is located across the street from the Ningbo Drum Tower and has a relatively strong connection with the Drum Tower. However, the facade is old, with too many elements such as advertisements and signboards, and the design style is not in line with the ancient atmosphere of the Drum Tower.

Demand Analysis

Habitat Relationships Exploration