Derived from the concept of mountains and inspired by traditional Chinese landscape paintings, the development stands to present a stratified geology providing pinnacles, caves, rocks and waterfalls in the valleys, with geometric office towers expressing as mountain peaks and rock shaped pavilions lining alongside the busy traffic flow in between to form a dynamic streetscape.
Ascending office towers are sculpted with powerful tapering cuts, leading the eyes to the apex; the layering of a mountainous contour is depicted by using Void and Solid striation, which also assist in complying with the glazing to wall ratio requirement.
This landmark features three office towers, two exhibition pavilions and five retail pavilions, strategically scattered on the site to express the cascading nature of its mountainous surroundings. The site is not among any of the central business districts (CBD) in Shanghai, though is conveniently accessible via MTR Line 10 at Hongqiao Road Station, adjacent to the Shanghai City Sculpture Art Centre, and Redtown Art DistrictThus.
Along Kaitian Road there features a dynamic serrated façade which symbolises a fissure through the mountain, and together with busy traffic flowing in-between, a vibrant streetscape is created. Rock-inspired pavilions are featured with surface details of symbolic “cracks”, and cut-out terraces on top forming a unique form for each block and allowing consumers to enjoy an uninterrupted view of the “mountainous” scenery they are in. Cave-like sunken plazas are smartly set to allow natural daylight into the basement as it enhances pedestrian circulation and connection between northern and southern part of the development.
The overall layout takes a bird's-eye view and captures a panoramic snapshot of the bucolic surrounding. The cultural tower, office towers, retail and exhibition pavilions are couched in a jagged manner which contributes to its dynamic and grandiose appearance, viewed from the West. The sunken plaza that connects the north and the south creates an illusion of a cave rift, completing the silhouette of an iconic mountainous terrain.
To mitigate negative shading impacts to the environment, and provide a solution for the problem of residence insolation, the stacking building blocks are sensibly arranged through rigorous analysis on site setback, mechanical loading and solar requirements.
From glazing panels of the grand entrance to details of geometric mosaic patterns within, materials are delicately chosen to blend futuristic elements into the oriental aesthetic of the development, resulting in the sparkling charm and elegance of a high-end business centre.
The tower adopts an efficient core tube structure and employs polygonal shapes in the standard floor plan. By dividing the passenger elevator into high and low zones, the high zone serves to create a more expansive office area through the setback of the core. In addition, the independent space provides a small scale, headquarters like environment for startups, which renders it more attractive compared to other large-scale spaces.
In addition, exhibition spaces within the development would serve as a value-added feature for the tenants, largely eliminating time and costs spent for sourcing and transportation for their exhibition needs.