Westlake University Campus Design: Redefining the Relationship Between Education and Urban Space
About the University
Westlake University was established in 2018 as a modern research university focusing on fundamental sciences and advanced technological innovation in China. It is located to the west of Hangzhou, a site that provides direct access to the region’s growing scientific landscape.
Campus Structure
The campus comprises a variety of integrated facilities, including:
- Specialized academic buildings
- Research laboratories
- Administrative offices
- Sports and cultural facilities
- Cafeterias and service facilities
- Residences for students and faculty members
Together, these elements create a campus environment that supports daily life, study, and research simultaneously.
Design Philosophy
The campus design is based on a comprehensive planning vision, gradually transitioning from the broader urban framework to the detailed architectural features of each building.
To achieve this balance, the site is treated as a set of interlocking loops that organize the relationship between different spaces both physically and conceptually, including:
- Academic Core
This is the center of scientific and educational activities, where the main colleges and laboratories are concentrated. - Water Loop
It forms a calm natural boundary, providing a visual flow that helps guide movement throughout the campus. - Living Loop
It includes residential and daily service buildings, creating a socially balanced environment around the educational core.
Colleges and Spatial Distribution
The university consists of four main colleges:
- College of Science
- College of Engineering
- College of Life Sciences
- College of Medicine
Each college is housed in a dedicated building to support its academic and organizational independence, while maintaining proximity to other research facilities.
Architectural Features of Academic Buildings
The college buildings are based on a modular design that emphasizes longitudinal bars.
Although they share a prefabricated concrete structure with a clear presence and practical structural function, each building retains distinctive visual features, such as:
- Color variations
- Diverse surface patterns
- Unique façade details
This provides each college with an individual character while maintaining a unified overall identity.
Bridges as Connecting Elements
To enhance connectivity, bridges serve as functional architectural elements. They:
- Connect the longitudinal buildings
- Form multiple internal courtyard spaces
- Facilitate daily movement between colleges
Integration with the Academic Loop
Additionally, these buildings intersect with the circular academic loop, supporting interdisciplinary communication and encouraging interaction between researchers and students on a broader scale.
Shared Spaces and Their Functions
Shared spaces appear at the intersections of the academic loop with the college buildings, making them natural gathering areas open to daily interaction between students and researchers.
Ground Floor: Applied Learning Environment
At this level, laboratories are designated for interdisciplinary use.
These labs foster a collaborative environment, allowing the integration of scientific expertise across multiple fields.
Upper Floors: Lecture and Knowledge Spaces
On the higher levels, a range of spaces support academic work, including:
- Lecture halls
- Seminar rooms
- Meeting rooms designed for discussion and planning
Flexible Areas for Daily Activities
Additionally, spaces with a social and informal character have been incorporated, such as:
- Cafés
- Exhibition halls
- Multi-purpose open spaces
These elements contribute to a balanced campus experience that combines study, research, and daily social interaction.
The Academic Loop: Hub of Campus Activity
The academic loop represents the intellectual and social heart of the university. It is a dynamic, triple-height space that offers panoramic views of the surrounding buildings and continuously connects them.
Functions and Components of the Loop
The circular form of the loop brings together a variety of shared spaces dedicated to academic activity, such as:
- Meeting rooms
- Seminar rooms
- Shared laboratories
Its open design facilitates daily movement between colleges and enhances interdisciplinary communication.
Significance of the Open Design
It is noteworthy that the circular arc of the loop is not fully enclosed.
This architectural choice reflects:
- Openness to change
- Potential for future development
- Expansion of the campus if needed
Central Park as a Space for Reflection and Interaction
At the heart of the loop lies the central park, a tranquil green garden used for relaxation and contemplation, providing an open space for social interaction among the university community.
Conference Hall
At the center of the park stands the conference hall, a multi-functional facility where:
- Graduation ceremonies and official university events take place
- Cultural events are regularly hosted
- It occasionally transforms into a venue for concerts and performances
The Waterway and Its Role in Shaping Space
The campus is surrounded by a tranquil waterway, forming a natural boundary and giving the area a distinctive visual character. From this outer framework, twelve bridges extend outward from the center toward surrounding areas, resembling the spokes of a wheel.
Living and Service Loop
These bridges lead to the green living loop, where student and faculty residences are located.
Encircling this loop are daily service areas, including:
- Shops
- Cafeterias
- Sports facilities
This arrangement creates a vibrant hub for social life.
From Center to Periphery
The campus architectural planning originates from a clear center that serves as the main incubator for academic activities.
However, the design aims not only to shorten distances but also to:
- Guide movement across multiple layers
- Provide each loop with a distinct identity and function
- Offer diverse spatial experiences
Encouraging Interaction and Inspiration
Through this organization, a dynamic social and intellectual daily flow is generated.
Moving through the loops allows for:
- Unplanned encounters
- Rapid exchange of ideas
- Variety of activities and experiences
This makes the campus space stimulating for the emergence of new ideas and diverse ways of thinking.
Integrating Nature and Culture in the Campus
The campus design aims to blend inspiration drawn from both nature and culture, creating a holistic educational and social environment. Open spaces and parks, alongside academic facilities, provide a balanced experience for students and researchers.
The Role of the Conference Hall in Cultural Life
The conference hall serves as a pivotal element on campus, hosting:
- Academic lectures
- Cultural events, including concerts
Through these activities, the hall enhances interaction between the academic community and the surrounding environment, helping blur the boundaries between educational and social life. It makes the campus a vibrant hub of intellectual and cultural activity simultaneously.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The design of Westlake University’s campus can be seen as an attempt to organize the university space through interlocking spatial loops that integrate education, research, and housing, providing several clear advantages. For instance, facilitating communication across different disciplines via the academic loop and bridges creates opportunities for informal interaction, while the open spaces and the gradual transition from the center to the periphery offer flexibility for the daily use of both students and faculty members.
On the other hand, there are a number of considerations that may be taken into account when studying the project from a broader architectural perspective:
• The open-loop design may sometimes lead to dispersed movement or weakened visual orientation within the campus, particularly for new visitors.
• The uniform prefabricated concrete structure of the buildings may limit material diversity and architectural expression, reducing the sense of individual distinction for each college.
• Shared open spaces, while socially effective, may require careful management of different functions to avoid conflicts between academic and social activities.
Despite these considerations, the campus can serve as a reference study in modern campus planning, offering a model for integrating residential, educational, and research elements within a unified framework, with the potential for future improvement through adjustments to circulation, material variety, and the management of multi-functional open spaces.
Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team
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