ATKINS Shanghai has recently completed the design concept for a future skyscraper/mixed use center for the future central business district of Zhangjiagang, China. Additional renderings, plans and a description from the architects can be found after the jump.
In March 2011, ATKINS Shanghai received the commission from Jiangsu Shagang Group Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. to make a concept design for the skyscraper in the core area of future CBD in the east of Zhangjiagang. The main building in the design is planned to be 300 meter in height, which will be the highest one in Zhangjiagang, and also the core center of the city. The client is the wholly owned subsidiary of Jiangsu Shagang Group, one of the Fortune 500 companies in the world, which is also the leading company in China’s steel industry.
In order to mine its commercial value and make it to be the boutique building in Zhangjiagang, or even Yangtze River Delta region, the general style of building is required to be top-level CBD income property. The design fully expresses the high quality and personalized charm of the building. The variety of the commercial format creates and promotes the valuable space. It not only can show the city’s image of vitality, rapid development and face to the world, but also can reflect the city’s spirit of pioneer and majestic. The project will be the future commercial center in the city, and will also become the name card of the city.
The design team broke through the traditional city network system, and uses a new axis. The concept is from the relationship between the dominant flow and site location. The architects use the most direct and efficient way to lead people into the center of the site, which can maximize the commercial value of the site. At the meanwhile, the new axis makes the space of interior more interesting and diversified. The new axis is the start point of the whole design, by which to cut the form of towers to emphasis the dialogue between towers and podium. In this way, the integrity and uniqueness of the design is promoted. The powerful atrium space, extended from the axis, is the core commercial and event space. The twin towers are located cross the axis symmetrically, which have a harmonious relationship with the atrium. The simple and refreshing water system is introduced into center of the site by the axis, which promotes the quality of the commercial dining spaces. This is one of the unique points of the design.
In the facade design, instead of having a traditional solid feeling of commercial buildings, architects are trying to give a light and transparent skins by using recycle aluminum shading system. This can give a very soft natural lighting to the interior, as well a good view for customers. This can also makes the building have two personalities in daylight and moonlight. The simple and powerful personalities in the daylight and the light and graceful personalities make a striking contrast. The beauty of inside-out is well performed by the design.
Architects: ATKINS，Shanghai Location: Zhangjiagang，China Client: Jiangsu Shagang Group Hongrun Real Estate Development Co., LTD Project Year: 2011 Project Area: 395700 sqm Chief Architect: Ma Liang
