Hui-Chen Weng

Hui-Chen Weng is a Taiwanese designer working across the disciplines of interior design and architecture. After graduating with a BA Architecture degree at National Cheng Kung University, she worked in a variety of interior design studios from 2017.

Her fields of interest are concerned with human behaviour and multi-sensorial design, which led to a series of related projects through the two years at the Royal College of Art. She is obsessed with exploring how spatial elements can change our perception within simple environments.

It is unusual for us to experience spaces that employ a singular bold colour in a playful theatrical manner.

The inspiration for this project is the red-green duochrome optical test that is used to determine the patient’s strongest eye. Investigations into colour theory led to Johannes Itten’s work regarding the simultaneous contrast of complimentary colours where red and green have an equal ‘50/50’ relationship. The site comprised of two equal and adjacent railway arches that also had a ‘50/50’ relationship and the opportunity to create a rather surreal pair of singular monochromatic spaces presented itself.

To realise this aim a symmetrical scheme organised around the central axis between the two arches has been created. As customers journey from the ground floor entrance to the basement showroom and consultation spaces a carefully crafted composition of vertical planes of various heights conceal and then reveal vistas and views to manipulate the user’s sight lines and focus as they circulate through the space.

Early experiments developing structures to display spectacles led to the creation of a modular display system that can be adapted to be either wall or handrail mounted. Using this system identically coloured frames are displayed against contrasting red and green backgrounds that test the customer’s visual perception.

Shopfront – An optical for London-based brand Cubitts in the Coal Drops Yard

Ground Floor Plan – Symmetrical floor plans with red and green spatial arrangement: Creating two floor height volume for display area facing the Regent's Canal while the entrance facing the square.

Basement Plan

Section Through Display Area – Walls with different levels and height are placed in position to either conceal or reveal the sight lines of people.

Section Through Reception Area

Long Section Through Green Half – As an space for optical, viewer’s sight level is controlled and changing continuously during the journey, from human height entrance to the striking, two floor height volume; from the narrow, restrained canal view, revealed and concealed again, to the open display area.

Long Section Through Red Half

Ground Floor Display of Vintage Spectacles

Handrail Based Spectacle Display System

Detail of Spectacle Display System(top)

Detail of Spectacle Display System(bottom)

View of Basement from Ground Floor Mezzanine

View of Staircases to Basement –

View from Staircase Landings to Ground Floor

Circulation to Concealed Consultation and Workshop Spaces

A Quirky Reception from Quirky Staff –

Theatrical Curtains Reveal Concealed Storage – Theatrical moment

Display Area with Visual Connection to Canal Side Walkway –

Spectacles Display –

View of Green Spectacles Display Area

View of Red Sunglasses Display Area –

The Spatial Language – A single element is transformed to create the spatial composition.

An Introduction to the Site – A brief introduction to Coal Drops Yard(group work with; Panagiota Angelidou, Siqi Liu, Yihan Wang, Tang Xiao, Lanyue Wang).

Hui-Chen Weng

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About

Royal College of Art

Hui-Chen Weng

Ministry Of Education Taiwan Scholarship Programme

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About

Royal College of Art