How did an old dyeing mill become a modern academy? Today we stand before the Mingde International Building. It stands as a testament to China’s transition. It moved from manufacturing to a knowledge-based economy.
Mingde International Building is part of the Mingde Academy. The academy occupies the grounds of the old Honghua Dyeing Mill. The mill opened in 1989. It closed just 14 years later.
O-office Architects transformed the mill. He Jianxiang and Jiang Ying led the project. They have been rethinking China’s industrial heritage for over a decade. Their studio sits on a former beer factory in Guangzhou.
In 2014, they converted two mill buildings into an art gallery. They also made artist studios. This was Phase 1 of iD Town, a creative hub. O-office recycled nearly a dozen structures around iD Town. They created Mingde Academy.
The 253000-square-foot complex includes classrooms and a library. There is also a science center and student housing. Recreational facilities are also available. The school plans to grow to 600 students. Currently it has 50 teachers and 35 staff.
He and Jiang connected the buildings with gardens and promenades. Bridges span the sloping site. They used natural flora as part of their landscape plan. They snaked an elevated walkway through the forest. The outdoor spaces offer a sequence of experiences. The architects focused on the “in-between”. This included the relations between buildings, topography and nature.
O-office maintained the identity of the old factory. They contrasted the new with the old. They kept the old buildings’ fabric. They added new elements like steel screens. They also included colorful entries. Most buildings needed steel reinforcing. This was due to higher safety standards.
The architects used simple finishes inside. Drywall, colorful paints and clear glass create a sleek vibe. Each building required specific adaptations. The student dormitories were once worker dorms. O-office added new staircases and terraces. They wrapped the faculty housing with steel grating. This created private balconies. They kept the arched openings of the canteen for the student center.
O-office converted the generator building into the library. They embedded book-storage spaces. They cantilevered Cor-Ten boxes as courtyards. For the science building, they added a roof canopy. They carved out an atrium. They placed a teaching garden on top. They turned the fabric warehouse into the academic building. They designed a long corridor with skylights. Lime-green walls create a 21st-century environment.
The outdoors was as important as the buildings. The architects turned a hillside into an amphitheater. They transformed the terrace into a garden. Students experience outdoor rooms and pathways.
Mingde Academy shows how architecture can chart a path. It moves from heavy industry to a knowledge-based economy. The Mingde International Building stands as a symbol of this transformation, right here in Beijing.