At Fublis, our Design Dialogues series highlights the architects and designers redefining the built environment through innovation, creativity, and a deep understanding of human-centered design. Through thoughtful conversations, we uncover the philosophies that drive their work and the impact they aspire to create.

In this edition, we feature CLOU Architects, a multidisciplinary design firm known for crafting vibrant social spaces that seamlessly blend architecture, art, and urban experience. Their projects, ranging from large-scale mixed-use developments to educational and cultural spaces, prioritize community engagement, spatial fluidity, and experiential design.

In this interview, CLOU Architects share their approach to designing immersive environments, the evolving nature of retail and mixed-use spaces, and how sustainability and artistry shape their architectural vision. Join us as we explore how CLOU continues to push the boundaries of design, creating spaces that inspire interaction, connection, and a sense of belonging.

CLOU Architects focuses on creating vibrant social spaces that foster community engagement. How do you approach designing large-scale mixed-use developments to ensure they remain deeply human-centered rather than purely commercial?

Jan Clostermann: At CLOU, we approach large-scale mixed-use developments by prioritising the human experience. We start by understanding the cultural, social, and environmental context of the site, engaging with local communities to ensure the design reflects their needs. We challenge conventional typologies, creating spaces where retail, culture, and residential areas interact seamlessly. By breaking down large structures into smaller, intimate components—like courtyards, alleys, and atriums—we ensure a human scale. Thoughtful materiality, natural light, and greenery make spaces warm and inviting. Our goal is to create environments that foster connection and belonging, balancing commercial viability with social spaces.

The Wuhan Ski Resort combines sports, retail, hotels, and entertainment into a single experience-driven environment. How did you approach the challenge of integrating these diverse functions into a cohesive architectural and urban experience?

Jan Clostermann: The Wuhan Ski Resort integrates sports, retail, hotels, and entertainment into a cohesive experience. We approached this by rethinking traditional boundaries, allowing functions to overlap and interact. The ski slope became the central organising element, weaving through the building and connecting programmes. Retail and entertainment spaces flow around the slope, creating a dynamic interplay between activity and leisure. Multi-level centres and open plazas encourage movement and interaction, while the hotel offers views of the slopes and public areas, blending private and communal spaces. Industrial and natural materials, combined with strategic lighting, unify the diverse functions into a layered, immersive, cohesive environment.

The ski slope’s pixelated multimedia façade and terraced three-dimensional architectural forms are striking design elements. Could you share how these visual strategies enhance both the identity of the resort and the user experience?

Jan Clostermann: The pixelated multimedia façade and terraced three-dimensional forms of the Wuhan Ski Resort were developed as both a visual and pragmatic response to the challenges of designing for such a large-scale, functionally complex project. The façade, in particular, required a careful balance between creating a striking identity and addressing the practical constraints of cost, construction speed, and human scale.

Firstly, we recognised that façades for ski slopes are inherently challenging. Any additional design elements can quickly escalate costs, so we focused on a modular approach. By breaking the façade into pixelated units, we were able to standardise production, optimise construction speed, and keep costs manageable. These modules were designed to be prefabricated off-site, allowing for rapid assembly on-site while maintaining precision and quality.

Secondly, the pixelated design served a spatial purpose. A half-kilometre-long façade risks feeling monolithic and impersonal, so we deliberately fragmented it into smaller, human-scale elements. This not only made the building more approachable but also created a dynamic interplay of light, shadow, and texture that changes throughout the day and with different viewing angles. The multimedia aspect of the façade further enhanced this effect, allowing the resort to transform visually, engaging visitors and creating a sense of movement and energy that reflects the activity inside.

Your portfolio includes a strong focus on retail, leisure, and mixed-use developments. As consumer behaviors and urban dynamics evolve, what shifts do you foresee in the future of these spaces, and how is CLOU preparing for them?

Jan Clostermann: We foresee a shift towards experiential spaces that prioritise social interaction and community engagement over purely transactional functions. In response, we are designing developments with public plazas, green courtyards, and flexible event spaces that encourage connection. Sustainability and wellness are also key priorities; we integrate energy-efficient systems, biophilic design, and wellness amenities like fitness areas and meditation spaces. Technology is seamlessly incorporated, blending physical and virtual experiences through smart infrastructure and interactive spaces. Our goal is to create adaptable, human-centred spaces that evolve with changing needs, fostering vibrant communities and enriching urban life. Crafting high-quality social spaces is key nowadays, and this tendency will only increase in the foreseeable future.

The design of West Coast Kindergarten adopts a “stacked blocks” strategy to maximize space while ensuring each classroom has access to its own mini playground. What were the biggest challenges in implementing this modular approach, and how did it enhance the children’s interaction with the space?

Jan Clostermann: The “stacked blocks” strategy allowed us to create individual mini playgrounds for each classroom, connecting indoor learning with outdoor play. The challenge was balancing spatial efficiency with child-friendly scales and ensuring structural integrity. By breaking down the building into modular, pixelated forms, we created intimate, safe outdoor areas that feel like extensions of the classrooms. The central playground serves as a shared social space, fostering community engagement. This layered approach encourages exploration and interaction at different scales, enhancing the connection between indoor and outdoor learning and creating a dynamic, engaging environment for children.

The kindergarten is described as a “man-made hill” blending with its surroundings. How did you approach integrating the architecture with the surrounding landscape while ensuring a playful and engaging environment for children?

Jan Clostermann: We envisioned the kindergarten as a “man-made hill,” using a terraced, pixelated design to blend with the natural landscape. The stepped form breaks down the building’s mass into smaller, child-friendly volumes, creating outdoor terraces and mini playgrounds for each classroom. This design connects indoor learning spaces directly to nature, encouraging exploration and interaction. The playful façade and varied roof levels add visual interest, while the integration of greenery and natural materials enhances the connection to the surroundings. The result is a dynamic, engaging environment that feels both natural and designed for children’s curiosity and imagination.’

With rapid urbanization and increasing environmental concerns, how does CLOU integrate sustainability into its projects in a way that enhances both the ecological and social experience of a place?

Jan Clostermann: At CLOU, we integrate sustainability through practical, simple, and impactful strategies. We prioritise energy-efficient systems, passive design, and sustainable materials to reduce environmental impact. Green roofs, natural ventilation, and daylight optimisation enhance both ecological performance and user comfort. Socially, we design spaces that foster community, such as public plazas, green courtyards, and shared amenities.

We believe that the inside–outside relationship in architecture is key, so by integrating nature into our projects—through landscaped areas, biophilic design, and accessible outdoor spaces—we create environments that are not only sustainable but also enriching for people. Our goal is to balance nature with human-centred design, ensuring our projects contribute positively to both the environment and the communities they serve.

The atrium design is described as an “immersive jungle garden” inspired by Henri Rousseau’s paintings in the Qingdao Future City project. How did you translate this artistic vision into a functional architectural space that remains both visually striking and practical for a retail environment?

Jan Clostermann: The atrium was designed as an “immersive jungle garden,” blending art, nature, and functionality. Dense greenery, vertical gardens, and cascading planters evoke the feeling of a jungle, while natural materials like wood and stone create a tactile, immersive experience. Skylights and strategic lighting mimic dappled sunlight, enhancing the sense of depth and drama. Vivid greens and earthy tones, accented by a bold red colour, create a calming yet very stimulating atmosphere. Functionally, the atrium serves as a central hub, with seating areas and event spaces that encourage interaction. By blending art, nature, and architecture, we created a visually striking and practical space that enhances the retail experience and makes people stay, wander, and socialise.

The project integrates nature and art to create a unique sensory experience. How did the selection of materials, lighting, and greenery contribute to fostering a sense of escapism and interaction within the space?

Jan Clostermann: The integration of nature and art in the Qingdao Future City project creates a unique sensory experience designed to foster escapism and interaction. The use of materials like bold red contrasted with natural elements creates a very unique and surreal experience. Vibrant pops of colour introduce energy and focal points, while vertical gardens and cascading planters bring lush greenery indoors, transforming the atrium into an immersive and colourful “jungle garden.”

The space offers visitors a retreat from the city, fostering a sense of escapism while also inviting interaction. By blending art, nature, and architecture, we crafted an environment that feels both otherworldly and welcoming, encouraging people to connect with the space and each other.

CLOU Architects, an architecture firm that consistently blurs the boundaries between art, space, and human interaction, what is one question you continuously ask yourselves at the start of every new project to ensure that your designs remain innovative, socially impactful, and deeply connected to their environment?

Jan Clostermann: At the start of every project, we ask: “How can we create spaces that inspire connection, foster community, and enhance the human experience?” This question guides us to prioritise human-centred design, ensuring our projects are innovative, socially impactful, and deeply connected to their context. By focusing on the interplay between people, space, and environment, we blur the boundaries between art, architecture, and human interaction, creating transformative and enduring spaces.