What sparked the idea for your award-winning project, and how did it take shape?

Dingdong Tang: The initial inspiration for this project emerged from a deep appreciation for Le Havre’s distinctive historical identity and its unique waterfront context. At the heart of our design was the desire to create a harmonious dialogue between the strong, expressive form of the existing historical windbreak structure and our contemporary architectural intervention.

Haisheng Xu: The project was deeply shaped by the unique waterfront context. The special relationship between the site and the sea guided our approach toward transparency and openness. We integrated expansive glass façades and dynamic roof to encourage visual connectivity, capturing the dynamic interactions between architecture, landscape, and water.

Zehui Li: The narrative of Le Havre itself, with its rich industrial heritage and aspiration for renewal, profoundly informed our design. Our goal was to create a balance between history and modernity, reflecting the city’s identity and its ambitious vision for the future.

How does your personal style or philosophy influence your designs?

Dingdong Tang: Our design philosophy is deeply rooted in a context-sensitive approach—each project demands a tailored response that draws from its unique sense of place. By carefully examining the distinct characteristics and cultural context of every site, we uncover specific opportunities that inform our architectural strategies. Ultimately, our work prioritizes social responsibility, aiming to enrich communities, respect local heritage, and foster meaningful connections between architecture and society.

Haisheng Xu: There are always societal, historical, cultural, and aesthetic factors in every project, interwoven like dynamic, flowing rivers. Our approach is to capture significant moments among these contextual currents, identifying the most relevant influences present at the site, and shaping the project’s identity through thoughtful, responsive dialogue. We emphasize forms and aesthetics that authentically embody each project’s unique narrative.

Zehui Li: Our projects strive to reflect the dynamic scale of human activities and spatial logic. Architecture, for us, serves as a social armature bridging public and private realms. By honoring each project’s inherent complexity, we aim to create spaces that are both thoughtful and meaningful—insightful expressions that actively engage with their surroundings.

What was the most challenging aspect of this project, and how did you tackle it?

Dingdong Tang: Balancing the existing structure with our contemporary additions posed a substantial challenge. It was essential to preserve the historical charm and distinctive identity of the original building while introducing new elements that would reinvigorate the entire project. Through careful selection of materials, subtle transitions, and thoughtful spatial relationships, we achieved a harmonious dialogue between old and new.

Haisheng Xu: One major challenge was convincing ourselves that extending the existing site—despite significant structural and foundation costs—was essential to the project’s success. It required rigorous analysis and extensive internal discussions. Ultimately, by clearly defining our vision and long-term value, we ensured this critical decision became integral to realizing our architectural ambitions.

Zehui Li: Determining the right scale of intervention in this sensitive waterfront context was crucial. A design too intrusive would compromise the intimate connection with the water, while too subtle an approach wouldn’t fulfill our ambitious objectives. Additionally, integrating the new architectural forms into the existing iconic structure required meticulous care. We approached this by crafting complementary forms and proportions, creating a unified, iconic landmark that respects the existing strong architectural presence and enhances the site’s overall integrity.

Winning an International Design Award is a huge achievement—what does this recognition mean to you?

Dingdong Tang: This award is incredibly motivating for our whole team, reaffirming our belief in the value of design that deeply engages with cultural context and social responsibility. It also encourages us to continue pushing boundaries, exploring innovative solutions, and contributing meaningfully to architecture as a positive force in society.

Haisheng Xu: It gives us confidence that our experiments of thoughts and ideas are in the right tract of architectural discourse.

Zehui Li: It will also be marked up as a milestone in our career trajectory. We seriously take this award as an extraordinary acknowledgement of our past works and begin again as a fresh start.

Can you share some insights into your creative process? Do you follow a structured approach or let inspiration lead the way?

Dingdong Tang: Our creative process involves striking a careful balance between intuitive exploration and analytical rigor. The team begins by thoroughly investigating the unique context and characteristics of each project site, allowing these distinct qualities to organically shape and inform our design solutions.

Haisheng Xu: As a young and dynamic team, we’re continuously experimenting with our creative approach, intentionally avoiding rigid methods. We prefer to remain open and flexible, allowing inspiration and spontaneous insights to guide us organically through the design process.

Zehui Li: Although we’re still refining our design philosophy, one core principle guides us consistently—iteration. Our iterative approach provides structure to our creative exploration, enabling us to systematically refine our designs while leaving ample space to capture moments of inspiration along the way.

Did this project push you to explore new materials, techniques, or technologies?

Dingdong Tang: This project challenged us significantly to explore innovative structural solutions, particularly the use of large-span arched structures. To achieve our envisioned fluidity and spatial openness, we carefully studied prefabricated systems, which enabled precision, efficiency, and flexibility in construction—ultimately allowing us to deliver both structural integrity and architectural elegance.

Haisheng Xu: The project strongly encouraged us to rethink traditional construction methods, especially in terms of fabrication and assembly processes. Exploring prefabrication not only streamlined construction but also significantly reduced site impact and construction timelines. Additionally, we integrated advanced digital modeling technologies, enabling accurate simulations and optimizing structural performance.

Zehui Li: Beyond structural innovation, this project inspired us to experiment with sustainable materials and advanced facade systems tailored to coastal environments. Incorporating cutting-edge glazing technologies allowed us to enhance thermal comfort, reduce energy consumption, and improve resilience, aligning seamlessly with our commitment to environmental sustainability.

What role does sustainability play in your design work?

Dingdong Tang: Sustainability extends beyond environmental aspects—it encompasses social and cultural dimensions. By prioritizing accessible public spaces and encouraging community engagement, our design fosters social sustainability.

Haisheng Xu: Sustainability fundamentally shapes our design process. We integrate environmental thinking directly into the architectural concept, such as strategically placed openings in the roof to blur interior-exterior boundaries. This approach not only enriches spatial experiences but also creates comfortable micro-climates, significantly reducing the building’s energy demand.

Zehui Li: Sustainability drives us to explore innovative technologies and construction methods. In this project, we integrated photovoltaic panels and green roof systems to optimize energy efficiency and reduce the urban heat island effect. Our goal is always to ensure that architectural excellence aligns seamlessly with environmental responsibility.

What advice would you give to aspiring designers looking to make an impact in their field?

Dingdong Tang: Always maintain sensitivity and responsiveness to context. Successful design emerges from thoughtful analysis of local conditions, cultural traditions, and community needs. By genuinely understanding and responding to these factors, designers can create meaningful, impactful architecture.

Haisheng Xu: Develop a clear and authentic voice. Aspiring designers should strive to cultivate their own distinct perspectives and expressive language within design, allowing their unique ideas to resonate clearly and powerfully.

Zehui Li: Deeply engage with the social, political, and spatial complexities inherent in every project. Instead of viewing these factors as constraints, leverage them as opportunities to enrich, refine, and amplify your design vision.

How do you balance function, innovation, and aesthetics in your designs?

Dingdong Tang: Our design approach prioritizes context-driven innovation, ensuring that function and aesthetics align seamlessly with specific project needs. By deeply understanding local conditions and user experiences, we achieve a harmonious balance—creating spaces that are both visually compelling and functionally effective.

Haisheng Xu: We approach function and aesthetics not as constraints but as opportunities for innovation. By pushing the boundaries of these fundamental elements, we aim to create designs that inspire and positively contribute to society.

Zehui Li: Function, innovation, and aesthetics are inherently interconnected, creating an organic synergy. We firmly believe in the iterative advancement of this relationship, where each element continually informs and elevates the others, driving our designs forward.

What’s next for you? Are there any exciting projects or collaborations in the works?

Dingdong Tang: We’re currently dedicating significant time and energy to research, exploring cutting-edge intersections between architecture, technology, and urban design. At the same time, we actively seek out high-profile competitions as platforms to test and refine our concepts, sharpening our skills through practice-based experimentation.

Haisheng Xu: In the near future, we plan to deepen our collaboration with interdisciplinary experts, including environmental specialists, engineers, and digital fabrication innovators. Through these collaborations, we hope to push our creative boundaries, enrich our architectural vocabulary, and explore sustainable, future-oriented design solutions.

Zehui Li: Moving forward, we’re committed to expanding our design portfolio with diverse typologies and international projects. We’re particularly excited about potential cultural and public architecture commissions, where we can further explore meaningful contributions to society and community-driven design.

Viw the Winning Entry by the Team of LYT-X STUDIO.