Benoy participates in the 2023 Xi’an Design Week
Unveiling Xi’an Design Week: Exploring ‘Design for the Future’ with Benoy
On October 13th, the inaugural Xi’an Design Week, centered around the theme of “Design for the Future” was successfully launched at the Xi’an International Convention and Exhibition Center. Benoy was invited to participate in the “Sail of Design” themed pavilion located in Hall 4. Representing Benoy, Xu Ke, Senior Architect of the Shanghai Studio delivered a keynote speech at the Architecture Forum, entitled “A Sharing of China’s Local Architectural Creations”.
The Xi’an Design Week was hosted by the Xi’an Municipal People’s Government, organised by the Xi’an Municipal Expo Affairs Center, and executed by the Xi’an Zhongze Qianqiu Exhibition Co. Ltd.
Benoy’s Iconic Projects and Case Studies
During the presentation, Xu Ke shared a selection of Benoy’s iconic projects and highlighted some of our recent and highly anticipated works. He delved into the details of projects such as Wuhan Joy City and the Ningbo Deji Lane Historical and Cultural District renovation project. These case studies provided a deep insight into Benoy’s design strategies and approach to both new developments and urban revitalisation projects across China.
Xu Ke’s Vision for Xi’an’s Design Future: Balancing Heritage and Innovation
Following this, Xu Ke was invited by the organisers to participate in a panel session with the theme of Xi’an’s (Chang An) Historical and Cultural Inheritance and the Road of Urban Innovation and Development/Visible Design, Invisible Trends. He shared his perspective on the future of design development in Xi’an.
He believes that Xi’an, as the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, stands out as one of the cities in China, especially in the Western region, with the deepest urban heritage and the most comprehensive cultural preservation. This deep cultural heritage provides unrivalled cultural soft power for urban development and significantly influences the development of local architecture. However, the historic and cultural inheritance should also be managed to a certain extent to prevent the beautiful vision from becoming too rigid and formulaic, which could hinder future design development and urban enhancement.
As a modern mega-city, Xu Ke emphasized the importance of urban development and architectural design being pragmatic, focusing on human-centric, sustainable, and ecological design while adapting to local conditions. He noted that the city’s unique climatic environment and local customs naturally give rise to the modern Xi’an architectural style.
Inspirational Forum with An Expert Panel
This engaging discussion was moderated by Liu Saiwen, Vice President of the Environmental Art Branch of the China Building Decoration Association.
The forum was hosted by Ai Hongbo, Vice President of the Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. Of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology and holds the position of Dean of the Architectural Design Research Institute.
Notably, a distinguished panel of experts also participated in this forum, including:
• Markus Lauber, Head of China for the German firm KSP;
• Song Guohong, Partner, General Manager and Head of China for the French architectural design firm VP;
• Yang Zheming, Founder of he Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd.;
• Jacques Maria Brandt, Design Director of YM International Studio;
• Jing Minfei of Jing Minfei Design Studio
Xi’an Design Week: Reinventing Exhibitions
Xi’an Design Week stands out from conventional exhibition formats. It embraces the concept of themed exhibitions in creative design and breaks through from traditional booth-style exhibition methods. Instead, it redefines exhibition hall design and scene display, highlighting creative design concepts and offering visitors a fresh exhibition experience.
This innovative approach goes beyond aesthetic appreciation and emotions; it also establishes a strong business context, positioning Xi’an Design Week as an event that caters not only to the public’s aesthetic appreciation but also embodies the city’s spiritual essence with forward-looking and high-quality design.
Xi’an Design Week in Four Acts
The 4‑day exhibition was divided into 4‑themed exhibitions: “Urban Design,” “Cutting-Edge Design,” “Sail of Design,” and “Playful Trends”. It included over 20 themed unique forum discussions and 60 creative activities, with participation from renowned design institutions, emerging designers, and creative trend brands. This event highlighted design’s multifaceted value, from industrial empowerment to shaping urban environments, making it one of the most dynamic and sought-after urban creative events of the year.
