The Flower Clouds I Zhengzhou Metro Line-7 Stations by MASK Architects and Jiang & Associates Design

MASK Architects and Jiang & Associates Design (J&A) have collaborated to develop the conceptual interior design of the Zhengzhou metro line-7 stations. The first phase of Zhengzhou Rail Transit Line 7 starts from Dongzhao Station to Nangang Liu Station. The line is 26.82 kilometers long and has 20 stations, including 11 transfer stations.

Öznur Pınar ÇER, Danilo PETTA founders of MASK Architects say “Our new generation concept for a metro station in China is inspired by how commuters interact with the space and how they feel within the space on their daily routes. We have created an installation, an application to the normal structures of metro stations, and changed the whole environment. A place where all pressure and stress will be reduced, where your mind becomes open and active instead of tired and sleepy. We wanted to create a social space, in which the commuters can engage with the surroundings and the environment.”

The Flower Clouds — Image © MASK Architects

Nature has a way of creating positive disruptions by pulling us out of our interests, ideas, and systems and into something that is often humbling. Design with nature now means to develop areas and environments that are preparing to grow with policy changes, with changing needs of individuals and communities as well as with altering environmental constraints and potentials. Nanhuan Park is where we take inspiration to connect the outside environment to the interior of the metro station. The park shows off the city’s flowers and roses.

The installation’s concept consists of flower-like structures and modules that will create the base and main attraction point. We have created large modular structures that can be situated in any order or pattern, to be connected together or separated. With this expandable and mobile modular system, we can create different systems in which the perspective can be changed and can create different flows of avenues for people to explore or be directed to their platforms.

The petals of the flowers create a kind of canopy that will have beautiful light installations that will pulse throughout the canopy and its leaves interacting with light, music, and movement. This kind of environment is refreshing and very playful with the eyes and mind. We aim to distract people from their daily routines and commutes by giving them the opportunity to focus and explore an environment that they may have been using for a long time.

We want to identify the clarity and transparency and create it in a very elegant way using 3D volume to create beautiful bespoke shapes of petals and leafs. The mesh material will allow us to create transparency to allow light to reflect and be seen in different perspectives. The lighting sequences and patterns will create beautiful lines streaming and beaming across the ceiling area from petal to petal. The canopy lines will create a ceiling wave to excite the commuters. Almost like an exhibition, it allows people’s minds to wander and think freely.

The leafs and petals on the branches of and stems of the flower will have multiple lighting effects. They will beam and pulse creating a beautiful harmonic lighting solution as well as a light show. The elegant petals and leaves contribute to the flow of nature into the transport hub. Taking away the full, boring, mechanical elements away from the metro station and transforming it into a more natural, nourishing, flourishing, and refreshing space. The flooring is important, as we want to make it as easy as possible for the commuters to navigate and get directions from the floor patterns to their platforms.

The station is built on two floors, an arrivals, and a departures floor. Each floor will have patterns on the floor to direct the commuters throughout the metro station. The commuters can feel the flow all around them. We want to engage with their emotions and take them away from their negative emotions and implement a happy environment to create happy emotions for them. The station is under construction and is expected to be completed and ready for opening in 2023. Source by MASK Architects.