Beijing Foresky Community Center

Gathering Field

The community center is set in the northwest of Foresky’s garden area, with the entrance through a spiral staircase descending into a sunken courtyard. The functional area around the oval square features a circular layout facing the courtyard, with a curved outline; the interior and courtyard engage in a dialogue, creating a central axis for returning residents. Architect JUNG Donghyun takes “Gathering” from the spatial spirit as the design core, and derives the frame box as the design language and a composite element—the basic family unit in the urban environment for residents—shaping the gathering space and various scenic experiences.

Beyond Function

The project explores the nature of social space between neighbors and discovers community spirit beyond its normal function. The gym is composed of frames of different scales and heights, with box spaces that include a reception area, cardio training area, strength training area, Pilates area, yoga area, changing and shower area, and, above all, enclose the rest area in the center, which supports an experience beyond fitness—a social center that gathers the residents. Based on different exercise types and physical behaviors, such as standing, sitting, lying, and different exterior viewpoints, the frame boxes have varying heights from the ceiling to create a private or public feel. The children’s center features frame boxes that grow from the ground and respond to a child’s scale; the modules, with different voids, are scattered across the open space, with windows on three sides, providing interesting views and opportunities for communication. The restaurant is centered around a central bar, with different dining areas surrounding it, and distinguishes between privacy and publicity through a ceiling of different frame boxes, creating an open, gathering experience. The consistent language integrates the furniture and lighting into the frame boxes, satisfying diverse dining areas. The café selects a whole veneer to decorate the box for efficiency, clarity, and a lively pace.

Spatial Substance

The community center explores spatial substance and belonging through a design approach to lighting, surfaces, materials, and routes. A higher color temperature creates a vigorous, dynamic atmosphere in the children’s center. While the gym with a lower color temperature has a different character from a typical commercial gym, the former evokes a home-like sense. The box is composed of a metal frame, cloth, modules, and veneer. The frame provides a breathable feel for the gym and restaurant, and the block provides a soft, warm feel for the children’s center and café. The design specifically selects the interior frame elements to match the architectural facade material—stainless steel—to achieve consistency and integration from exterior to interior. The interior landscape uses greenery, rubble, and bits of wood to pave the floor, complementing the box space and creating a natural route that echoes the garden context in the community.

Clients: Metro Land Corporation LTD

Architects: PLAT ASIA

Principal architect: Donghyun JUNG

Partner architect: Liu Guowei

Design director: Lian Jingyun

Project architect: Wang Haiyu

Scheme design team: Zhou Qinyuan, Shang Anqi, Li Shu

Interior LDI: YiBoChuan (Shandong) Design Institute

Lighting consultant: Tang Qiubao

Photo: Zhu Yumeng