Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2025
Victor Hydraulics Exhibition Hall
by Li Chen
- A' Design Award 2025 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 8,749
- Verification code BA0795436B · Verify this award
About Victor Hydraulics Exhibition Hall
Victor Hydraulics is a corporate exhibition hall for an industrial hydraulics manufacturer, covering 780 square meters in Shaoyang City, China. A cantilevered block 20 meters long marks the entrance and rests on a single stress point formed by a customized steel structure. Italian natural travertine and woodgrain stone form the main surfaces, and stone wrapping covers the structural columns. Two fan-shaped facades and symmetrical curved steps guide visitor movement. A circular booth raises a large hydraulic system close to eye level, and a viewing platform at the end overlooks the hall.
0103 Interior Design's Victor Hydraulics Exhibition Hall demonstrates a sophisticated engagement with contemporary spatial design principles rooted in minimalist architectural traditions that emerged from mid-twentieth-century modernist movements, particularly the international style's emphasis on structural clarity, material authenticity, and spatial flow as primary aesthetic generators, while incorporating technological advancements in integrated lighting systems and precision material fabrication that enable the seamless material transitions and geometric rigor evident throughout the composition; the compositional achievement of the space resides primarily in its masterful orchestration of linear elements that establish both functional infrastructure and sculptural presence, the ceiling-mounted lighting array creating a rhythmic diagonal progression that activates the overhead plane while directing viewer attention through the space along carefully calculated sightlines, this diagonal orientation working in productive tension with the vertical emphasis of the cylindrical columns and the horizontal stratification of the floor and wall treatments to generate a dynamic equilibrium between competing directional forces; the chromatic restraint evident in the near-monochromatic palette demonstrates considerable sophistication, utilizing subtle tonal variations within a compressed value range to articulate spatial depth and material differentiation without resorting to chromatic contrast, this approach allowing material texture and surface quality to assume primary roles in visual interest generation while maintaining atmospheric unity and contemplative serenity throughout the environment; technical execution appears meticulous across multiple registers, from the precision alignment of the linear lighting elements suggesting advanced installation methodology to the flawless material finishes evident in the polished floor and wall cladding, the integration of functional systems including lighting, climate control visible in ceiling-mounted components, and structural support into a coherent aesthetic whole demonstrating the kind of collaborative design-build coordination characteristic of accomplished contemporary practice; the staircase element particularly rewards close examination, its sculptural structural system revealing sophisticated engineering that allows broad treads to cantilever from minimal apparent support, creating visual lightness despite substantial material mass, the angular geometry of the support structure establishing visual dialogue with the diagonal ceiling array while the horizontal grain patterns of the stair treads echo the banding detail visible on the cylindrical columns, these formal rhymes creating subtle compositional unity across disparate architectural elements; thematically, the space appears designed to evoke qualities of transparency, accessibility, and contemporary institutional presence while maintaining sufficient monumentality to convey gravitas and permanence, the generous ceiling height and expansive floor area suggesting accommodation for significant gatherings or exhibitions while the carefully articulated circulation pathway marked by the ascending staircase invites individual movement and exploration, this negotiation between collective and individual spatial experience representing a recurring concern in contemporary public architecture; the material selections suggest awareness of architectural heritage spanning from ancient Roman exploitation of marble and stone as symbols of authority and permanence through modernist celebration of industrial materials and honest structural expression to contemporary interest in sustainable practices evidenced by what appears to be responsible material sourcing and energy-efficient lighting technology; one might observe how the design negotiates between contrasting qualities: the industrial character of the exposed ceiling systems and the refined elegance of the polished stone surfaces, the cool minimalism of the color palette and the warm organic presence of the wood-toned stair treads, the monumental scale of the overall volume and the human-scaled proportions of individual circulation elements, these productive tensions creating spatial complexity and experiential richness that transcends simple aesthetic categorization; the viewer encountering this space might consider how contemporary architecture continues to grapple with enduring questions about the relationship between form and function, the expressive potential of material and light, and the capacity of built environments to shape human experience and social interaction, inviting personal reflection on how spatial design influences mood, behavior, and the felt quality of everyday institutional encounters.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- I hope that all the VICTOR HYDRAULICS visitors can clearly perceive its independent character and respect for their self-developed industrial products in the global industry. I began to think about what kind of materials could be used in the space to unfold the story of VICTOR HYDRAULIC accurately and present its qualities in a meaningful space. I seek to visualize them, to form precise geometries in the space, to define and delimit spatial zones and the interconnectedness of spaces.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Area:780㎡
- Tags
- Exhibition hall,Industrial exhibition hall,Enterprise exhibition hall
- Production Technology
- I decided to use Italian natural travertine and woodgrain stone as the main material of the space. Through natural weathering and corrosion, they both exhibit a unique and complex quality. Travertine textures and holes have been shaped by the power of nature to symbolize the spirit of eternity and resilience. Woodgrain stone is delicate and gentle with lines of grain that are as beautiful as a never-ending poem. Both are highly overlapped with the characters of VICTOR HYDRAULICS.
At this point, I began to refine the connection of all the geometric forms within the space. For all the architectural structural columns, we used stone wrapping with a clear expression of strength, which, like the pillars of a temple, hold up the entire space. At the front of the entrance cantilevered block, I placed a delicate high-pressure plunger pump. It forms a clear dramatic contrast with with minimalist, thick geometric blocks in the front space. Visitors’ traffic flow are guided by the left and right symmetrical curved steps and the front cantilevered block which has the shadowy carving of the VICTOR HYDRAULICS corporate story. - Design Challenge
- Every product of VICTOR HYDRAULICS undergoes a process of repeated and rigorous refinement and testing, and every industrial designer and operator is a combination of craftsman and artist. VICTOR HYDRAULICS and I want visitors to feel the power that has been embedded in VICTOR HYDRAULICS for over 55 years, which is tenacity, dedication, professionalism, and also creativity, innovation, and strong vitality. VICTOR HYDRAULICS corporate exhibition hall should at the same time convey the possibilities of the future.
- Project Duration
- Time of duration:Five months
Locations:Shaoyang City,China - Operation Flow
- Two tall fan-shaped facades block the view of the rear space, leaving only the cantilevered blocks extending to the back end. Passing the two fan-shaped facades, the circular booth lifted the large volume of the hydraulic system to almost flush with the line of sight height. This means that visitors can look around clearly the large volume of industrial products, as if to view a fine work of art. The viewing platform at the end guides visitors to go upwards and to overlook the whole exhibition hall, and thus the main line of visiting the whole exhibition hall is finished.The series presentation of the three main products of VICTOR HYDRAULICS is handled on a curved wall, which is divided into three groups, with each group having a high level booth and a low level display area. This meets the needs of visitors after viewing products via main traffic flow and then to further understand the VICTOR HYDRAULICS products.
- Research
- In this project commission, I learned from Peter Zumthor focusing on the delicate relation formed between inside and outside, public and private space as well as on how to begin a project, the path and the boundary. I also focus on the properties of materials, the complexities of shaping the atmosphere of a space and weighing the size and scale of the space. I kept measuring until everything was just right.
- Inspiration
- I planned a 20-meter long cantilevered block at the entrance of Victor Hydraulics exhibition hall, with only one stress point in the whole block, using a large customized steel structure as the base column of the stress point and the inner structure of the cantilevered block. In the first look, it has strong aggressiveness, which gives the visitors amazement and affirmation, and then it can drive the visitors to think.
- Image Credits
- photographer:Liu Lei(Ueya photography)
Colors of Victor Hydraulics Exhibition Hall
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Exhibition and Commercial Interior Design
We create sophisticated interior spaces that blend philosophy, contemporary art, and functional design. Our young team brings fresh perspectives to exhibition halls, corporate spaces, and retail environments, transforming them into meaningful experiences that tell your brand's story.
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