Global business hub in China will act as a “sponge city”
Shanghai Lingang Special Area, which aims to attract some of the world’s most prominent companies, seeks to embed sustainability and nature at its heart.
International architecture firm Ennead Architects has unveiled the masterplan for the Shanghai Lingang Special Area, a new hub for global commerce in China, which seeks to embed sustainability and nature at its heart.
Designed around the central axis that joins the Dishui Lake district in the core of Shanghai, the plan establishes an iconic identity for a free trade zone and business district that aims to attract some of the world’s most prominent companies as it facilitates global trade.
In total, Ennead’s large-scale plan includes four commercial buildings, over 89,000 square metres of retail, over 7,500 square metres of civic space, and over 28,000 square metres of open space.
Sponge city
Landscaped pedestrian spaces and lush rooftop gardens are designed to bring office workers and residents are closer to nature. Ennead has designed the site to act as a sponge city, in which the abundant green spaces play a key role in absorbing excess rainwater, helping to mitigate any potential damage from storms and flooding, while also moderating temperatures and reducing erosion.
Moreover, as it is situated on the circular Dishui Lake, Ennead took inspiration from natural motifs to inform the design of the site, looking to the forms of and ripples on the lake to create a built environment that reflects the natural world.
“The integrated design of the mixed-use site lends itself to a variety of elevated experiences for the local community and tourists alike in the centre of this high-profile business district”
As a free trade zone, the site occupies an important commercial, political, and civic role, with its design providing a functional area where multinational corporations can optimise business operations, while also creating open spaces for the surrounding communities to enjoy.
The centrepiece of the development is The Ring, which symbolises prosperity and unity. The site radiates from this circular, cantilevered observation deck and museum with exhibition spaces, supported by four mixed-use towers. The structure will afford 360-degree views of nearby Dishui Lake, Shanghai, and the Pacific Ocean, while providing space for cultural experiences.
“Our vision for the Lingang Special Area in Shanghai is to implement an international standard of architecture that reflects China’s role in 21st-century global commerce,” said Peter Schubert FAIA, design partner at Ennead Architects. “The integrated design of the mixed-use site lends itself to a variety of elevated experiences for the local community and tourists alike in the centre of this high-profile business district.”
Flanking The Ring are two towers that will accommodate corporations from around the globe. The Tower Waterfall and Tower Rhomboid are designed with memorable aesthetics: a gently curving gouge is carved into the sides of Tower Waterfall while Tower Rhomboid features angular sawtooth patterning that distorts the perception of glass versus solid from different vantage points.
The district will be made up of unified sub-districts with unique identities. Accommodating a variety of civic functions, degrees of density, and natural and built environments for people to work in and inhabit, the sub-districts include: the Quad of Free Trade, Eco and Art Centres, the Mixed-Use Commercial Zone and the Mixed-Use Residential Neighbourhood.
Commercial and retail spaces will be linked by a collection of elevated, linear parks with local flora; landscaped, pedestrian paths; and a gently curving avenue of interconnected, landscaped buildings called the Financial Crescent, a unique gathering space that unifies the entire district.
“The ambition was to create a 21st century free trade hub that elevates the profile of Shanghai as a global economic player,” said Grace Chen, Principal and Director of Asia Practice at Ennead Architects. “Ennead’s masterplan and designs for individual plots support this vision by establishing a compelling and inspired identity that speaks to the importance of this region.”
Leave A Comment