Located in the Chinese region of Zhejiang, at the service of the large residential complex “Change on – White City”, the new Club Center of Huzhou covers about 1,420 square meters, according to the project commissioned by a major Chinese real estate investment company to Studio Marco Piva.
The architect combines has brought together in a single architecture the services of swimming pool, sauna and relaxation area in the basement, lobby with reception, lounge bar, gym, locker rooms and services on the ground floor, and poker room, billiards, cigars, wine cellar, VIP executive lounge, terrace and services on the first floor.
Fronted by a square enriched with fountains, greenery and street furniture, the exclusive club is a low building, covered with stone slabs, which has the main front punctuated by three full-height glass openings and framed by large portals.
The transparency of the façade allows to catch a glimpse of the entrance lobby from the outside, with its monumental glass and metal hanging chandelier, which the architect designed inspired by the archetype of the fan and its typical reeds.
In this large symmetrical triple-height space, walls and details in satin-finished steel or bronze finish and natural materials such as marble in different woods and wood, as well as leather and soft silk curtains that conceal the two side conversation areas from the outside.
The first is framed by a light grey carpet, has cognac-coloured leather armchairs as well as a large L-shaped sofa, and is served by Six coffee tables by Bross, in the same shades as the upholstered furniture; with a hexagonal shape, the five modules chosen from the Six collection create a dynamic composition with different heights and finishes: the structure, with heights of 25, 40 and 45 cm, is made of Canaletto walnut, while the table top is in matt lacquer in red and anthracite grey.
The second mirrored area is organized with armchairs and sofas and a lounge bar with a curved metal counter and satin-finish steel top, served by Path stools, also produced by Bross: their tapered legs, in heat-treated solid oak, extend to define the lower part of the seat, which is then formed by the combination of a thin profile of exposed wood and a leather-covered cushion. The backrest, also in leather, has an opening that ensures maximum ergonomics and is enhanced by visible hand-stitching.
The essentiality of the composition and the precious furnishings, including those of Bross, creates an atmosphere with a classic imprint, made up of precise functional areas emphasized by the lighting design, proportions and a few decorative accents and artwork that refer to the Chinese tradition, reinterpreted with contemporary spirit.
