On 24th August 2023 at Wu Shanming Museum of Art, Mr. Hu Zhile, Founder & Design Director of WJ STUDIO, was invited to participate in the kick-off meeting of Old Mansion New Life 2023 Hangzhou, and gave a speech on the topic of "Talking about Alteration Design".
In the speech, Mr Hu took the "design possibility" and "from design to control design" as the clue of alteration, and explored the significance of alteration design by combining with the projects of Wanjing Design in the field of urban renewal and old building renovation in recent years. According to Hu Zhile, the old buildings are not only limited to the scope of interior design and renewal, but also an important part of the city's memory and intention. Similarly, design cannot cover all the space and ecology, what is more important is how to identify the possibilities of the site through design, so that the site can be awakened again.
On July 13, 2023, in conjunction with the World Architecture Festival (WAF), the INSIDE World Festival of Interiors revealed its shortlist for the year 2023. A total of 73 projects from around the world were selected for this edition of INSIDE.
Among them, WJ STUDIO's "Boatyard Hotel" was shortlisted in the Hotel category for the 2023 INSIDE event. They have been invited to participate in the INSIDE Singapore annual celebration and on-site presentation from November 29th to December 1st. They will be competing with design teams from around the globe for the ultimate prize.
On 15th June 2023, Mr. Hu Zhile, Founder & Design Director of WJ STUDIO, was invited to participate in the first "Andrew Martin Chat in Town" event in China as a keynote speaker, and gave a special design sharing session on the topic of "Two or Three Things about Design".
In the nearly three hours' communication, Hu Zhile took "what is design" and "what is design" as the introduction, and combined with the company's recent projects, such as Mawei Shuanzheng Bookstore, Yunlangu Business Centre, and Equator Peak Coffee, etc., he shared his views on the process from concept to implementation. He shared the practice and thinking from concept to implementation; at the same time, Hu also shared the results of international competitions and academic research based on the PRO-LAB team, and deeply analysed the importance of multi-dimensional composite and top-level thinking.
The independent exhibition "DEEP GREEN" of the 2023 Venice Biennale officially opened in Venice on May 20th and will run until November 26th. WJ STUDIO was invited to participate and will showcase the theme 'Multi-dimensional Intervention: Reflections and Practice on Rural Architecture in China'.
The topic of "Rural Construction" in China is currently attracting increased attention from various stakeholders, including political, cultural, production, and business interests, as these forces shape the relationship between urban and rural areas. This trend is not unique to China, but rather reflects a global interest in the complexities and unique characteristics of rural areas. Given the distinctive qualities of each rural locale, now is an opportune moment for architects and planners to turn their attention to the practice of rural architecture, with a view to exploring innovative solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of rural communities.
WJ STUDIO's conceptual designs for Roll Up the Fields in Qingshan Village, Huanglong Island Hotel in Dongjutou Village, and Boatyard Hotel in Shanwan Village demonstrate an innovative approach to integrating regional context and the boundaries between urban and rural areas. By introducing a diverse range of building typologies, WJ STUDIO seeks to enrich the spatial and architectural values of rural communities, contributing to a more sustainable and community-oriented approach to rural design.
On March 16, 2023, the "2022 Yangtze River Delta and Some Provinces and Cities in China Most Beautiful Public Cultural Space Competition" held an award ceremony at the People's Cultural and Art Museum in Pudong New Area. Under the careful guidance of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China, the Propaganda Department of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, and the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, as well as the strong support of various provinces, cities, and districts, the competition has explored and established a number of model cases for the integrated development of national public culture, accumulated "design strength" for public cultural spaces, and enabled the creative design industry to empower public culture and a better life.
The winning content of this competition:
WJ STUDIO - Top 10 Designers/Institutions of the Year Award
Fuzhou Mawei Shipbuilding Library - Most Beautiful Public Cultural Space Award
On 14th March 2023, the 26th ANDREW MARTIN International Interior Design Award Ceremony was successfully held in Shanghai Bulgari Hotel, and Mr. Hu Zhile, Founder & Design Director of WJ Studio, was invited to attend the ceremony as one of the 100 outstanding designers in the world.
In this year's ANDREW MARTIN INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS, WJ STUDIO's two works: Fuzhou Mawei Shipbuilding Library and Sunac. Mogan Valley. Zhulinli Group Demonstration Area was honoured to be selected!