ARCHITECTS CASE STUDY
THE LEVITATED CURTAIN
A SPACE WHERE THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR ARE CONNECTED
Located in a resort on the outskirts of Guangzhou , the Levitated Curtain is an iconic building for wedding ceremonies and public events . In Guangzhou , weddings usually start at 7 am , but the ceremony only begins around 6 pm , then Xi Hall will serve as a multifunctional space for dining , photo shooting , reception , and several other purposes during the day , and becomes a sacred place for the wedding ceremony at nightfall . When there are no weddings , Xi Hall which sits in the center of the resort will be a perfect location for sightseeing and allow public events for different occasions .
Wok Room . The unique streamline of Xi Hall was inspired by the Wok Room , a traditional residential architecture from the Lingnan area of China that featured with wok-handle-shaped pediment . A wok is a cooking pot originating from China , the hump in the middle of the pediment looks like the handle of the wok , then it is called Wok Wall , which helps to block the wind or the fire , and serves as the main bearing structure of a house .
The architect abstracted the shape of a wok wall and applied it to the east and west elevations of Xi Hall , by which two wok-wallshaped openings were created , connecting the interior to the outdoor landscape . Between the walls with the special openings , there is a curved roof sloping towards the grassland in the north like an elegantly draped curtain .
ARCHETECH - PAGE 94