Suzhou Hi-con | Spark architects

Inspration

The idea developed on a Sunday afternoon was to give the chimney a personality which could contribute to the objectives of SPARK’s master plan for the village. The Hi-con was born. 

The chimney received its own bespoke set of clothes the upper body the letter "i" ( the first letter of industrial) the lower body the letter "D" ( the first letter of design). The body composition of the chimney and its clothes together represent "iD"………. Industrial Design. 

The letter "i" illustrates that the village is "industrial, innovative, international and iconic". The letter "D" stands for "Design, Development, Discovery and Dream" which aligns with the ambition of the design village. 

Finally presented in front of everyone is a dancing "iD" person who has a white clock head, wearing a brown polka dot shirt, one leg standing, the other leg posed as a dancing posture, showing a lively and dynamic image. 

The Hi-con is meant to stimulate discussion and provide a backdrop for selfies and memories. SPARK director Min Wei said: "We have inserted a moment of fun into to the landscape supporting the notion that 'public art' makes places more attractive." 

"We focused on how objects and places can be navigable for people," Min Wei "The Hi-con is fun but at the same time functional, expressing the spirit of the industrial design village through a three dimensional graphic 'iD', guiding visitors and telling them they have arrived at the destination." 

SPARK chose materials that expressed the spirit of the site therefore the Hi-con is wrapped in warm colour tones. The upper body is copper and the lower body is Corten (rusting) steel. The clock atop the body is the dot on the i. and the head of the body, the clock is slightly rotated to the northeast to welcome visitors coming from the east side. 

Team: Stephen Pimbley, Wenhui Lim, Min Wei, Wai Wing Yun, Tiantian Ge, Qinyu Wu. 

Construction drawing: Suzhou urban-development architectural design institute Co., Ltd. 

Curtain wall: Qiang bin, Chengbao Zhang, Haojian Sun, Qiming Zhang 

Structure: Chunliang Su, Wantang Wang 

Lighting: He Wei 

Photography: CreatAR, Min Wei