Red Planet

The Thread is a public-space activation for the pedestrian and vehicular loop surrounding the Deqing Courtyard sales gallery in Hangzhou, China, designed by 100architects. The client commissioned the studio to make the sales gallery and its environment more attractive from both a pedestrian and a vehicle point of view, so that passing traffic would notice the project and visitors would find a coherent route from the street to the entrance. The proposal is based on the concept of a thread that runs through the whole public space, connecting all areas and guiding the visitor through a winding journey. The thread is materialized as a long, continuous, brightly colored line painted on the floor that traces the pedestrian and vehicular loop, and at key moments rises into three-dimensional elements such as benches, planters, signage, and play equipment. The line is designed in a single vivid color that contrasts with the surrounding grey paving, making it instantly recognizable from a car as a unifying gesture. The project is intended to work during both day and night: at night the line is edged with integrated LED strips that illuminate the path, turning it into a glowing ribbon through the landscape. The Thread thus creates a memorable arrival sequence that anchors the sales gallery within its site and gives pedestrians a readable, playful route.