Beijing, China

Beijing Tokyo Art Projects (b.t.a.p) Renovation

Images courtesy of MAD Office

Hard space, Soft space

Images courtesy of MAD Office

Steel, Glass, and Concrete became symbol of Modernization in 50 influenced by German architectural movement led by Bauhaus. Mass-productive materials provided a standard for quantity and quality of building and created building prototype. Building started to depends on factory rather than site therefore factory become a monument of city transformation.

Images courtesy of MAD Office

In the post-modernization era, these monuments are left over as unused factories in Beijing. With new agenda of Globalization, city found the potential in those spaces to create new meaning of space as a blank flexible space. In 21st century, the cluster of factory is transformed into central art district in one of the biggest Metropolis.

Images courtesy of MAD Office

Tokyo gallery is one of the first galleries to open in 798 Art District just before 21st century. Their aim was to anchor their art direction in Beijing to create platform for next century Asian art scene. After successful years of their gallery activities, this project is planned to extend their gallerys possibility as exhibition space and office space to express new modern space.

Images courtesy of MAD Office

Innovation comes from not only new technology but also re-evaluation of usage. The main challenge of the project is to find new potential of these materials with advanced technology to create space between hard and soft. Hard contact between Glass Box of office space and solid steel staircase which is hanged from the mezzainine level is the first focal point of space which lead visitor to mezzainine level where people have new perspective to look down for art piece exhibited in main space. Steel strips of staircase are transformed to fluid pattern and when it reaches upper level, it becomes successive furniture pieces. This nonlinear materials transformation changes peoples presumption of relationship between materials and space.

Images courtesy of MAD Office

B.T.A.P. in between hard and soft space provides new possibility for artists to have different dimensional relationship with visitors and expresses its attitude as one of most innovative gallery in China.