Gewu Study House

This is a spiritual space designed to guide individuals in quiet reflection and inner cultivation. Its design philosophy centers on "Learning from Nature," aiming to construct a perceivable "Human-Energy Ecosystem" within the urban jungle of steel and concrete by scientifically deconstructing natural laws and employing innovative building materials.
The internal layout and material selection strictly follow the fundamental principles of ancient Chinese architecture, Daoist philosophy, traditional thought, and TCM theory. The goal is to promote internal balance through mechanisms that align with natural rhythms, achieving harmony between the individual and the external environment.
The interior layout is based on the theory of the "Five Elements and the Eight Trigrams," using directional and elemental properties for functional zoning and energy modulation, creating an ordered yet dynamic spatial energy field. The overall design employs the logical interplay of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements to enhance the resonance between the space and human energy.
The entrance of the study hall is shaped like the Chinese character "合" , symbolizing the core philosophical concept of "Unity of Heaven and Humanity." It implies that entering the space means integrating with nature, achieving a state of internal and external unity.
The main door faces east, corresponding to the "Wood" element in the Five Elements theory. Given the lack of natural light and warmth inside the office building, the designer created an artificial landscape called "Sunlight Over Three Mountains," depicting a mountain scene at dawn. This artwork symbolically replenishes the "Fire" element within the space, achieving a balanced Five Elements configuration while adding visual beauty and cultural depth.
Due to architectural constraints, the five central rooms are arranged in an arc, each representing one of the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. These elements correspond to the five internal organs: Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung, and Kidney. The room design symbolizes the balance and flow of the body's five energies, ultimately helping the body achieve optimal natural harmony and health.
The surface coatings of the ceiling, walls, floor, and structural columns are made using traditional rice slurry techniques. More importantly, the slurry is mixed with soil particles from the five cardinal directions—Eastern blue soil, Southern red soil, Central yellow soil, Western white soil, and Northern black soil. These soils also correspond to the Five Elements. After being exposed to sunlight and water vapor, the mineral lattices in these particles undergo a pyroelectric effect, continuously releasing negative oxygen ions (concentration 20,000–80,000 per cm³, ten times higher than in ordinary buildings) and enabling natural humidity regulation through the micro-porous structure of the coating. This keeps the indoor relative humidity consistently within the ideal range for human comfort—50%–65% RH. This natural regulatory mechanism perfectly embodies the essence of the Five Elements theory of "Earth gives rise to Qi."
On the ceiling of the Dao Hall, there is Asia’s largest single-unit natural spectrum light. Its circular design symbolizes the "Heavenly Round" in the concept of "Heavenly Round and Earthly Square." The surface of the lamp is painted with the ancient Chinese astronomical system of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, representing the gratitude of ancient Eastern people toward cosmic energy. This design integrates traditional cultural elements while enhancing the spiritual experience of the space.
Below the center of the ceiling, there is a Five-Directional Earth Installation, reflecting the Daoist idea that "Earth is the Mother of Qi." In Daoism, "Qi" is the fundamental substance of the universe, and Earth, located at the center of the Five Elements, carries and harmonizes the four cardinal energies.
We hope that through the design philosophy of "Architecture as Energy," we can awaken the innate natural energy memory within humans, elevating living beyond the physical height of the 61st floor, into a journey of resonance between body, mind, and the Earth's magnetic field—a return to our original connection with nature and the cosmos.