KAI ZHUANG

FROM

Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

EDUCATION

BA Environmental Art & Design (interior design direction), Shenzhen University, 2015-2019

MA Interior Design, Royal Collage of Art, 2020-2022

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Various Associates, internship, Shenzhen

Horizontal Design, internship, Shenzhen

EXHIBITIONS

Biennale International Design Saint-Etienne, French, 2019

C Future Festival, China, 2018

The 7th Shenzhen Art Fair, China, 2018

Title: The Prairie- Lowestoft Art House Cinema & Film Academy

The Prairie is an Art house Cinema combined with Film Academy. A sunken square is formed by using the enclosed existing buildings, bringing new public space for leisure activities to local people. In addition, the Academy brings more young resources to Lowestoft in the post-pandemic era.

The practice of 'Document' and 'Supplement' developed the first discovery of view and frame. Inspired by the architectural theory 'Raumplan' of architect Adolf Loos, I explored the spatial scales corresponding to different functional Spaces in the existing building.

Students and filmmakers can create freely here, and the visual connections formed by the design of different openings allow local people to learn more about the process and stories of filmmaking.

When I visited the building, I was interested in the hatch. When the hatch is closed, it is a solid wall, but after opening, it forms a visual and auditory communication between the two spaces. It is also located between the private room and open area. Based on this idea, I found two similar characteristics of space in this project.

The first space is the most secure place for the building because its previous function was as a bank. When people enter the space from the outside, they will be observed by the security in the guard room.The thickness of the wall, the direction and size of the windows on the wall and door, and the different heights of the ceiling reflect the safety of the existing site.

Another space is the Polygon space between the stairs. When a person sits here,once can observe what happens at the counter. Inspired by the architectural theory 'Raumplan' of architect Adolf Loos, I explored the spatial scales corresponding to different functional Spaces in the existing building. A place that one can see but cannot reach directly.

The response to the existing space, I enhance the journey from outside to indoors. The windows on the existing doors are preserved so that people can glimpse this space, but he cannot be reached immediately. I split the wall to create different openings for people to observe the entire journey.

The new structure is added to this polygon, and the space changes from indoor to outdoor. Because this area is located in the centre of the project, so that this space can observe the various areas of the project, all openings are formed. A specific landscape is created, and people’s vision is restricted.

In 1937, Lowestoft owned a cinema destroyed during World War II. Because locals love movies, they are eager to reopen the destroyed cinema. The movie theatre is located in Prairie, where deer roam freely. That is where the name of the project comes from. Today there is a traditional cinema, which contains a three-screen room. In October, Lowestoft will hold a film festival. To provide more opportunities for young filmmakers to show their works. Bring the young resource to this town.

Taking advantage of the existing building, the enclosed central area is used as a sunken square, attracting visitors from the street to the square, then dispersed into other functional Spaces of the project.

Opening up the facade lets people pay more attention to what is happening in the centre of the project and arouse the audience's curiosity. Lighting throughout the space is recessed in the horizontal and vertical structures.

The original building's arch is converted into a café order area, and when people order coffee in the cafe, the sight will be guided by the lights on the screen.