There is leisure on the ground floor, entertainment on the second floor and, finally, wellness in the basement: three precious levels of leisure, relaxation and sociality that contextualize in the Far East, in the Chinese region of Zhejiang, the Made in Italy aesthetic and its interpretation of contemporary luxury, carefully mixed with the local culture. The new Club Center of Huzhou is located at the service of the large residential complex “Change on – White City” and covers about 1,420 square meters, according to the project commissioned by a major Chinese real estate investment company to Studio Marco Piva, which 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 occupies a volume separate from the surrounding condominiums: it 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, combined with exclusive materials and furnishings, including those of Italian origin, 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 extreme care by Marco Piva.
Cover images
On the left: Path barstool by Bross with wooden legs and leather upholstery decorates the project’s lounge bar.
On the right: SIX coffee table by Bross, with red and black glossy lacquered top, decorates the lobby area of the new Club Center in Huzhou, designed by Studio Marco Piva architecture firm.
