view from the gateway

Located in the Xiaguan District in Nanjing, China, W2Y2L was required to design a high rise complex which included entertaining, sport, commercial and official parts. Hence the major concern of the design was how to merge this “huge complex” into the existing circumstances and get a brilliantly transitional connection with the landscape there. The distribution of architectural volumes in this design follows the idea of traditional Chinese Gardens, which transforms the elements of water, stones, hills, bridges and flowers into significant urban shapes animating and vitalizing the daily life of the entire district. More images and architects’ description after the break.

view from the pavilion

The site is on the south side of Jianning Road, in the area which is traditional and historical, meanwhile modern and , as well as surrounding by beautiful nature landscape scenery. The beautiful landscape scenery around drives the overall concept of the project by positioning the architectural parts like precious objects into an urban Chinese garden. The proposal therefore lifts up the ground surface and transforms it into a flexible and lively vertical highrise with landscape integrating all the service and leisure facilities to provide an attractive and continuously active support for this traditional and cultural site.

view from the park

To the open space, the idea is to be “bottom elevated” to broaden the horizons, enhance ventilation, expand public space, and promote community interaction. Meanwhile by setting up “roof garden” to increase the accessibility and integration between the inner and outer space. Thus, an outstanding public space which allows citizens to have an unique and great spatial experience can be realized.

Courtesy of W2Y2L

As the site is in the traditional area, which is very sensitive to avant-garde architecture, this drives W2Y2L to make the decision that controlling the upground mass of the highrise, by making the best use of underground space by putting some function units which don’t have a severe requirement of sunshine into underground. Besides, underground parking places will be provided.

Courtesy of W2Y2L

Considering the different climate in Nanjing, this requires to pay a special attention on the facade during design period. In the podium part, the façade is in form of compound “green skin”. The continuity of the urban environment is a necessary urban ecological factor. Keeping all the existing the plants and use of green plants as a “skin material” in the façade in lower area can link the city and the building more closely and show a continuous three-dimensional urban landscape. As the height increases, the facade gradually transits to active solar panels. Furthermore the building integrated with solar photovoltaic systems. This kind of facade will not only allow the building facades to show the magnificent effect of changes in the actual situation, but also providing for the operation of building with clean energy and reflecting the low-carbon, environmentally friendly development ideas.

Team: Xinyu Wan, Dingliang Yang, Keming Wang, Jialong Lai and Jie Li