A Steel Factory Becomes an Education and Exhibition Centre
Kokaistudios recently completed adaptive reuse project Baoshan Wast-to-Energy Exhibition Center, which makes its home on the site of a former steel mill. We speak with architect Andrea Destefanis to find out more about the landmark project
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
Andrea Destefanis: The client, steel producer Baosteel, knew of our previous projects and invited Kokaistudios to submit a preliminary concept that eventually won us the project.
What was the brief to you for the project?
It was to be an adaptive reuse project that would entail designing an exhibition centre within a disused Baosteel industrial building. The Baoshan Exhibition Center is now a space where the public can learn about waste to energy processes.
Can you tell us what is unique about the building and the location?
The site was once home to Baosteel’s primary steel mill. With the majority of the site’s factory buildings already demolished, the 725-square-metre Baoshan Exhibition Center occupies one of only a handful of original structures left on the plot. For Kokaistudios, this presented both an opportunity as well as a responsibility to preserve the project’s significant industrial heritage.
How did you approach the project and what was the idea behind the unique form?
We settled on a lightweight approach: a fully independent polycarbonate envelope positioned within the perimeter of the original structure. Not only does the solution resolve several of the project’s technical issues, like waterproofing, for example, but the translucent material complements the bulk and weight of the preserved piping and rusted machinery housed within the building.
Were there any particular challenges or constraints to do with the site?
According to the brief, we were only allowed to demolish a few service staircases that were conflicting with the layout of the exhibition space. But we completely preserved the rest, including all the piping and rusted machinery. Our approach to the project was supposed to be flexible in a way that would allow adaptation to the multiple and unexpected site conditions.
Can you tell us about the materiality and construction techniques?
As a preliminary condition of such a multifaceted project, it was important to build flexibility in at every level. In terms of the building itself, this was achieved through lightweight materials and a modular, prefabricated design. In addition to allowing for fast construction, optimising both time and cost, the dry-build approach leaves open possibilities for future repurposing. All the materials are kept similarly light and in keeping with the project’s broader ecological focus, fully recyclable. Alongside the polycarbonate facade and roof, the floors are finished in concrete tiles and the facility’s bathrooms feature stainless steel cladding.
Images / Terrence Zhang
