HEX-SYS / OPEN Architecture

Architects: OPEN Architecture
Area: 680 m²
Year: 2015
Photographs: Zhang Chao
Landscape Design: Guangzhou Shangwo Landscape Design Co.Ltd
Landscape Contractor: Shenzhen Wenke Landscape Co.Ltd
General Contractor: Zhongtian Steel Structure Co.Ltd
Local Design Institute: CABR Technology Co. Ltd.
Client: Vanke Guangzhou
Site Area: 5680 m²
Program: Reception, Exhibition, Lounge, Multi-media Room, Café, Office
Architect In Charge: Li Hu, Huang Wenjing
Design Team: ZHAO Yao, Andrea ANTONUCCI, Laurence CHAN, HU Boji, Thomas BATZENSCHLAGER, ZHANG Chang
City: Guangzhou
Country: China

HEX-SYS, designed by OPEN Architecture, is a modular, reconfigurable, and reusable building system aimed at extending building lifespans and conserving resources. Inspired by ancient Chinese wooden structures and Le Corbusier’s modular designs, it consists of 40 sqm hexagonal cells that can be rearranged for different needs. The system features reversible connections and rainwater collection for irrigation. The first prototype, an exhibition center in Guangzhou, includes exhibition areas, a multimedia room, lounge, offices, and a café, demonstrating the system’s versatility and sustainability.

HEX-SYS is a reconfigurable and reusable building system designed by OPEN Architecture. Addressing the phenomenon of short-lived flamboyant buildings in China, this modular system can adapt to various functions, be disassembled, and reused, thus extending a building’s life cycle and conserving resources. Prefabricated and modular, HEX-SYS allows for faster construction compared to traditional methods. It reflects OPEN’s exploration of mass customization and sustainability in architecture.

Inspired by ancient Chinese wooden buildings, which could be dismantled and reassembled with minimal damage, and Le Corbusier’s Pavilion for Zurich, which encapsulated his modular building research, HEX-SYS features hexagonal cells integrating architectural, structural, and mechanical systems within a consistent geometric framework. The cells can be rearranged to suit different sites and functional requirements.

The basic building cell, a 40 square meter hexagon module, includes an inverted umbrella roof supported by a single pipe column that also functions as a rain flue, collecting water for irrigation. Three cell types—indoor-open, indoor-closed, and outdoor-open—accommodate diverse functions. A ‘missing’ hexagon within a cluster creates an internal Zen garden, reminiscent of voids in Chinese paintings. The building components are designed for reversibility, with no welding or glue used.

OPEN Architecture holds the design patent for HEX-SYS. The first prototype, an exhibition center in Guangzhou near the new train station, features exhibition spaces, a multimedia room, lounge, offices, and a café. This prototype demonstrates one possible application of HEX-SYS, showcasing its adaptability for various functions.