For the longest time sculptures were created by artists, as a means of personal expression. When we were commisioned to work on this sculpture, we wanted to tell a story. A story about urbanization and nature. A story about our client's endeavour. A story that grows and blossoms.
Our client is Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City, the mastermind behind the biggest and most ambitious project to date in China on sustainable urban living. This township of 30 sq km developed jointly by Chinese and Singapore government is a showcase of environmentally friendly solutions to the urban problem, which will be a great challenge for the future as China's urban population will increase to 70% of total population by 2035, roughly translating to an increase of about 600 million people.
雕塑曾是一种向内的艺术，每一座雕塑都是创作者表达内心声音的一次尝试。但当我们被委托设计这座雕塑作品时，它便向外扩展而拥有了更开放的意义——这是一个关于城市和自然、梦想与愿景、生命和未来的故事。
项目的委托人是中新天津生态城，中国与新加坡两国间的标志性开发项目，占地30平方公里的天津生态城是中国建国以来最大也是最有野心的绿色城市项目。根据预测，到2035年，中国70％的人口都会居住在城市中。
城市生活质量将决定中国的未来。
The logo was meant to encapsulate this green vision. A seed from which the promise of a better future will blossom.
We reimagined this visual into a 3 dimensional form, a protective seed pod in the middle of which an actual living tree stands. A symbosis between the built environment and nature, a growing sculpture that also signifies the collaboration between the two governments and the marrying of their joint talents, efforts and foresight.
天津生态城正努力给未来一个答案，打造一座绿色环保、可持续发展的高品质生活空间。
这一标识表达了生态城的理念和愿景：一颗绽放更好未来的种子。
我们赋予了平面视觉素材立体的想象，种子保护着中间的海棠树。从二维到三维的创造成就了一件富有生命的作品，与城市空间共同呼吸、生长的雕塑，寓意着大自然与城市化的和谐共生，也代表了中新两国的紧密合作及对未来的共同承诺。
This comission was a design and build. We oversaw the entire process from protoyping to on-site installation. From a 1:20 3D printed model, to a 1:5 trial application of the gradient, to the final cast of the glass fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC).
这个项目内容包含了雕塑的设计和施工搭建。一开始的小样制作到最后的现场安装。从1:20 3D 打印的模型，1:5 的渐变色模拟，到玻璃纤维增强混凝土注模。
below text courtesy of SSTEC:
New Beginning
This installation adopts in its design the logo of SinoSingapore Tianjin EcoCity Investment and Development Co., Ltd (SSTEC), which is a seed that holds the promise of a new beginning. Seed leaves encapsulate the seedling - a crabapple tree - offering it nutrients and protection. The crabapple tree emerges from the seed leaves, reflecting growth and the natural progression of life, and symbolizes the growth and transformation of the Eco-City from a saline wasteland into a vibrant city, under the support and care of China and Singapore.
The seedling is represented by a living tree while the seed leaves are shaped from concrete to symbolize the urban environment. Integrating
The seedling is represented by a living tree while the seed leaves are shaped from concrete to symbolize the urban environment. Integrating
manmade forms with nature, the installation is an expression of social inclusiveness and harmony between man and nature. This embodies the vision of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City and also reflects SSTEC’s corporate culture.
生机
一颗孕育着新生命的种子，中新天津生态城投资开发有限公司的品牌标识。半闭合状的子叶，丰满而健壮，如同胚芽般保护并哺养着这颗种子。从子叶间隙中渐渐冒出的海棠树，像是种子破土而出，慢慢生根发芽，呈现的是一个成长中的“生命”。就像生态城，在中新两国共同呵护和支持下，从一片曾经的盐碱荒地上，萌发成长，发展壮大，充满勃勃生机。
混凝土是现代都市的代表元素之一。在绿树蓝天的自然景观中运用混凝土来塑造这颗种子，巧妙地营造出一种视觉效果，表达出人与自然和谐共存，相互包容的理念。这正体现了中新天津生态城所要努力实现的社会和谐、环境友好的美好愿景，也是我们企业文化精神的所在。
