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himmelzimmer is an architectural design practice in Melbourne dedicated to investigating
an architecture that evolves from a continuous dialogue of imaginative and practical thinking.

As a studio we need to be able to define what building/design we aspire to the most:
For us this is ‘a room in the sky’, a ‘himmelzimmer’.

From its open window we can see the endless sky encouraging us that our ideas should be
dream-like without boundaries. With its window closed we can focus on the work on our desk
in front of us, the technical delivery of our ideas.

All our designs evolve from the dialogue of these two perspectives which are both essential
in the delivery of well-executed buildings that inspire and transcend the ordinary.

Our work is at its most successful where our window to the world is in a constant state of
in-between, where it is simultaneously closed and open.

We started in 2003 as studio505.
Following studio505’s closure in 2016 we are continuing our work as himmelzimmer

himmelzimmer is an architectural design practice in Melbourne dedicated to investigating
an architecture that evolves from a continuous dialogue of imaginative and practical thinking.

As a studio we need to be able to define what building/design we aspire to the most:
For us this is ‘a room in the sky’, a ‘himmelzimmer’.

All our designs evolve from the dialogue of these two perspectives which are both essential
in the delivery of well-executed buildings that inspire and transcend the ordinary.

Our work is at its most successful where our window to the world is in a constant state of
in-between, where it is simultaneously closed and open.

We started in 2003 as studio505.
Following studio505’s closure in 2016 we are continuing our work as himmelzimmer

lotus

wujin, china

lotus

wujin, china

architect

studio505

completion date

2013

client

Wujin District People’s Government

cost

$12 million

photography

John Gollings

The Lotus Exhibition Centre is an icon for the city of Wujin. Conceived as an addition to an existing subterranean building under a lake, the centre is a sculptural and ethereal lotus flower displaying the three stages of the lotus bloom life. The lake and entire park were upgraded by studio505, and the project is a stunning sculptural centrepiece experienced in the round from the new garden.

Entrance to the project is from beneath the lake, and the interior is a revelation of space, cathedral like, with the internal mosaic finish merging seamlessly with a 7m high chandelier feature designed by studio505.

The Lotus is a remarkable blending of sculptural and biological form with coherent architectural planning. The building has become one of the most popular icons of Wujin in the short time since its completion with its night time light show hitting new records on Weibo, China’s online social network.