Heart of Yiwu, a large-scale urban complex designed by Aedas, opened on 24 June 2017. Sited on a plot designated for retail and commercial services in Yiwu, China, the projects fits retail, dining and entertainment facilities into one urban complex. The architecture presents the history and culture of Yiwu through form and functions.
The Yiwu River is historically important to the trading scene of the city. The building form made reference to the Chinese character for river ‘川’. A stone brick wall facing Beimen Street is designed to resemble the old city wall and gate, while the façade with subtle variations of stone openings symbolises the development of Yiwu from traditional to modern.
There was also once a flight of stairs which was an essential pathway for the tradesmen. The design transforms the stairs into an external circulation route to compliment the internal circulation route that connects the northern and southern public plazas on the ground floor. This external circulation route begins at the southern entrance and links the ground floor plaza to the fifth level, creating a 24-hour circulation loop that strengthens the connection between indoors and outdoors whilst encouraging an urban dialogue.
