MULTI DIALOGUE ON BAUHAUS REVIVAL AS THE CORE AGENDA OF GUANGZHOU DESIGN WEEK, 2024
DIALOGUE VENUE_LIN ZHEN. ART LOUNGE_FEAT. DPD, GRADO, DRECO, OSTUNI
GRADO partakes in Design Plus Design Studio (DPD)’s build-up of a green glade for the 2024 Guangzhou Design Week from Dec 6 to 9, exploring the realm of the forest together. We interweave sustainable narratives into the field artwork involving settling lightweight hollow carton boards, which are normally the basics of eco packaging, and setting upright the green-lacquered gas barrels like huge rolling wheels, as well as taking upfront the milky worsted bulks including the Swell Sofa, Fungo Table, and Rice Pouf. These eco-picks also very much represent how Grado creates spatial dynamics, by illustrating the synchronicity of object movements and stillness. We are well aware of sustainable space design working as an organic whole, unlike developing sustainable product lines, although we shall first list-check the fabrics, materials, paints, and adhesives.
POLICY ENVIRONMENT: HOME AND BEYOND
Given the enforcement of The Double Carbon Road to Sustainable Operation in China expects a record peak of carbon emission by 2030 and a downturn to Carbon Neutral in 2060, the automotive industry starts to converge designers and businesses, focusing on comprehensive sustainable solutions that align with both market demands and environmental goals. Some established companies like BMW joined the domestic electric vehicle market complying with international sustainable practice standards such as LEED BD+C by the U.S. Green Building Council, which suggests assessments on environmental performance during the design and construction phases, including site selection, transportation, energy efficiency, water usage, materials, and occupant comfort. During the 2024 Guangzhou Design Week, designers meet up on how to practice non-standard design language in local design programs, under the guidance of an international sustainable framework, which is case-specific and analyzed in the following. We find green vehicle retails note the importance of pre-sale and post-sale customer interactions, where designers can curate the vehicle retail tour route to enhance the customer journey: during the pre-sale, a free flow from parking to vehicle exploration and test driving can be established, while post-sale spaces like reception and maintenance negotiation areas can inspire customer loyalty. By sketching out their shopping paths and refining experiential elements, we can create environments that are not only efficient but also enrich consumers' overall experiences.
GRADO_VASE LOUNGE CHAIR_AI AND HUMAN INTELLIGENCE MIXTURE
GRADO & PROSCHE_RETAIL DESIGN
DESIGNER: AI CONTRIBUTES AS MUCH
An innovative approach that leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and neural networks gains attention to enhance the design process across various fields, including architecture and interior design. It involves data processing and model building, allowing for iterative advancements in data science to refine design outcomes. One of the key methods in this practice is Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN), which facilitate the creation of high-quality design variations by simulating competition between two AI models. Additionally, intelligent decision-making plays a crucial role in business planning, as it integrates these advanced techniques to formulate strategies that are both data-driven and predictive. Ultimately, the construction of predictive models enables designers and business planners to anticipate future trends and user needs, leading to more effective and creative solutions.
MARKET INSIGHTS: WELL-DESIGNED INTERIOR AS A PRIORITY
According to the annual business survey, the "sustainability" underlying the innovative space design of the BMW showroom attracted approximately 40% of new customers, with nearly 25% of visitors to the showroom ultimately converting to purchasing customers. The commercial impact of the showroom design has been revealed through the growth of BMW's market share in Foshan, Guangdong, and surrounding areas, with sales increasing by 18% year-on-year in 2023.
Market research data from 2023 and 2024 also indicates that consumer shopping and experience behaviors are increasingly influenced by interior design. In 2023, over 60% of global retail consumers are inclined to pay higher prices for stores and showrooms that exhibit strong design and innovation. A Continuous impact until 2024 when 80% of consumers recognize that effective interior layout significantly enhances their shopping experience, and more than 50% like to invest extra time and money for such improved experiences. These findings demonstrate that the design of commercial spaces not only shapes the first image but also affects purchase decisions and loyalty. Customer loyalty declines though, forcing business competition on customer appeal and retention.
According to the Retail Space Design Trends Report from 2023, customer revisit rates of those having employed design innovations in their showrooms and retail spaces were about 30% higher than those without. In 2024, investment in commercial space design contributed to business market growth, some of which reported a sales increase of at least 15% after the makeover. More specifically, it also reveals a strong correlation between vibrant night economic activities and effective spatial design in the restaurant and bar sectors, in the context of the night economy and entertainment spaces from 2023 to 2024. In 2023, the night economy led to a revenue increase of around 20% in the dining and bar industry. Those competitive interior renovations helped foster social interaction and create an engaging environment. By 2024, effective space design will earn a 30% rise in per-visit spending.
CASE STUDY 01. LINGNAN REGION: “COLD ALLEY”
The continental margin south of China (Lingnan Region) is exposed to intensive summer heat but lends itself a shortcut to cooling down to retain visitors at the vehicle retail space. One notable architectural feature is the "cold alley" effect created by the design of the service entrance passage. It incorporates essential functions for heat prevention, meeting the primary requirements of insulation, heat dissipation, and temperature reduction, all while minimizing energy consumption. The main structure of the building typically retreats inward, and large eaves are designed to provide self-shading. The cold alley, a characteristic element, enhances natural ventilation to facilitate heat dissipation from the building. The cross-sectional area of the cold alley is relatively small, but its greater height-to-width ratio enables self-shading, thereby reducing solar heat gain. As the wind travels through the cold alley, its speed increases and pressure decreases. This dynamic leads to the expulsion of warmer air from the adjoining spaces, while cooler air enters to replenish the interior, effectively achieving ventilation and heat dissipation. This localized design exemplifies how traditional Lingnan architecture harmonizes with environmental considerations, showcasing an innovative approach to sustainability that resonates with contemporary demands for energy-efficient building solutions.
CASE STUDY 02. CHUNGKING JIEFANG BEI BUSINESS WALK STREET_LIVE HOUSE: SOUND FIELD DESIGN
Walking around the hustle and bustle of the mountain city, Chungking, especially amid the central business street, the live house and bistro furnishings cry out for a high-fidelity protective sound solution. Therefore, designers weigh much more on auditory experience design, considering the entire inner space as a whole to make the best use of sound-absorbing materials and organize the audience seating reasonably as much as possible. The elevated seating area surrounded by guardrails and a low fence wall makes it possible to receive lateral sound reflections instead of direct sound propagations and reverberations, thus customizing a sound live music experience for everyone.
Designers Introduction
