QINGDAO HAIER IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF DOMESTIC WHITE GOODS. AT 30 YEARS OLD, IT IS A RELATIVELY YOUNG COMPANY. DURING ITS DEVELOPMENT  IT FORMED A COLLECTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS BY RETAINING EXAMPLES OF ALL ITS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES AND THOSE IT HAD COLLECTED AS EXEMPLARY MODELS.

 

THIS COLLECTION WAS HOUSED IN AN UNDERUSED OFFICE BUILDING, AND THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY REALISED A NEW PUBLIC-FRIENDLY BUILDING WAS NEEDED TO HOUSE THE COLLECTION AND PROVIDE SPACE FOR FURTHER ARTIFACTS, A LIBRARY AND SPACES FOR TEACHING, DEMONSTRATONS AND PROJECTS.

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THE BRIEF WE RECEIVED WAS TO DESIGN A BARE-BONES BUILDING THAT HAD A STRONG TECHNOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE IMAGE. OUR DESIGN SOLUTION PROVIDED A COG-LIKE MORPHOLOGY ENCLOSING FOUR LEVELS OF EXHIBITION SPACE, A SPIRAL STAIRCASE IS FULLY VISABLE THROUGH THE ALL-GLASS STREET ELEVATION, GIVING A CAM-FORM ELEMENT CONNECTING ALL FLOORS TO THE MAIN LOBBY. THE  UPPPER LEVEL CONTAINS RESTAURANTS AND THE BUILDING HAS A FUNCTIONAL BASEMENT.

 

TO HIGHLIGHT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT HAIER IS A LEADING EXPONENT OF THE 'INTERNET OF THINGS', EVERY ELEMENT IN THE BUILDING THAT CAN BE OPERATED THROUGH THE INTERNET: BUILDING CONTROLS, SECURITY, HARDWARE, CLOCKS, AND SO ON; ARE LINKED THOUGH THE NET - USING HAIER TECHNOLOGY, OF COURSE.

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