Golden A' Design Award Winner 2023
Ann Yu's Tic Art Exhibition Center emerges as a significant contribution to contemporary cultural architecture, demonstrating how thoughtful material choices and geometric sophistication can create spaces that honor both heritage craft traditions and forward-looking design innovation. The project appears to engage with longstanding architectural dialogues concerning the integration of building and landscape, employing the ancient typology of the amphitheater reimagined through contemporary formal vocabulary. The circular water feature functions as both a literal reflecting pool and a metaphorical gathering space, its stepped perimeter inviting congregation while its still surface mirrors the warm façade above, doubling the visual presence of the architecture in liquid form. The perforated screen that wraps the primary volume achieves remarkable technical accomplishment, transforming a utilitarian sunshading device into an ornamental surface that shifts appearance throughout the day as light angles change, creating what might be understood as a contemporary interpretation of traditional mashrabiya or jali screens found across various architectural traditions. The material palette demonstrates sophisticated restraint, limiting itself to variations of earth tones that suggest both permanence and regional appropriateness while the weathering steel and terracotta elements will patinate gracefully over time, embedding the building within natural cycles of material transformation. The landscape design merits particular attention for its balance between formal geometry and organic planting, with trees positioned to provide seasonal interest and shade while maintaining clear sightlines and processional clarity. The work invites contemplation of how contemporary cultural institutions might create welcoming public realms that extend their civic mission beyond interior galleries into generous exterior spaces that belong to the community.
Tic Art Center is a public urban landmark project. The overall design scope covered landscape, architecture, interior, and products, bringing together the innovation of structure, aiming to provide a comprehensive yet rhythmic spatial experience. This project Influence as a micro-urban landscape. It also impacts re-active the product trend of the hand-made brick industry which makes a successful practice of environmental-friendly architecture. The project has become a destination for numerous visitors while contributing to the brand value of the client as well as the land value in the area.