In Progress: Shanghai Tower / Gensler
Soon to be the tallest building in China, the 632-meter Shanghai Tower is beginning to take shape. Located in the center of the Pudong district, the tower will become the centerpiece of the city’s international financial district. The transparent, mixed-use building will work as a “self-contained city”, housing 550,000 square-meters of world-class office, hotel, entertainment, retail and cultural venues. It is designed to achieve both LEED Gold certification and a China Green Building Three Star rating.
Global powerhouse Gensler won the Shanghai Tower commission in an invited multi-stage competition among many other leading international architects. Upon completion, the Shanghai Tower will be the second tallest building in the world, behind the 828-meter Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Continue after the break for more information and the latest construction images.
‘(un) Made in China’ Exhibition
Sponsored by Cannon Design, the ‘(un) Made in China’ Exhibition will be taking place April 20 – June 20 at the ide@s gallery in Shanghai, China.Thirty years of unprecedented growth have transformed China’s built environment and given it the reputation as a land of opportunity for architects today. While much attention – and some criticism – has been focused on major completed works, little is known of those projects that disappear, fizzle out, or sit abandoned in spite of the rich tradition within architecture of both celebrating and criticizing unbuilt work. “(un) Made in China” seeks to bring light to these could-have-been-transformative projects and the experiences they produced. At its heart is a series of interviews conducted with 12 international architecture practices, which generate a wealth of interesting, insightful, and often humorous accounts and accompanying these are architectural models and images of the unrealized projects. For more information, please visit here.
CTBUH presents “Asia Ascending: Age of the Sustainable Skyscraper City”
Be sure to take advantage of the early bird special by April 30th for the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s 2012 World Congress, appropriately located in the skyscraper city of Shanghai. According to The Skyscraper Center, ten of the 20 tallest buildings in the world will be in China by 2020.
The Congress will examine poignant issues such as: Is the skyscraper a sustainable building type? Can tall buildings truly reduce and harvest enough energy to become carbon-neutral? What is the full impact on the city and the lives of its inhabitants by developing skyward? And what support mechanisms and urban infrastructure are required for such growth? CTBUH2012 has confirmed an impressive list of several Chinese leading developers, architects and engineers to speak at the World Congress. Continue after the break to review the full list.
Shanghai Terminal / Frank Repas Architecture
Architect: Frank Repas Architecture
Location: Shanghai, China
Structural Engineering: Weidlinger Associates, Inc. (New York)
Environmental Engineering: ARUP – Hong Kong
Glass Facades: RFR Paris, Stuttgart and Shanghai
Photographs: Antoine Duhamel
Tea House / Archi-Union Architects
Architect: Archi-Union Architects
Location: No. 1436 Jungong Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
Area: approx 300 sqm
Construction: August, 2010 – May, 2011
Chief Designer: Philip F. Yuan
Design Team: Alex Han, Fuzi He
Photographer: Zhonghai Shen
Spiral Gallery Ⅱ / Atelier Deshaus
Architect: Atelier Deshaus (Liu Yichun / Chen Yifeng)
Location: Tianzhu Rd, Jiading New Town, Shanghai, China
Project Team: Chen Yifeng, Liu Yichun, Li Jun
Project Area: 560 sqm
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Shu He, Yao Li, Su Shengliang
Xiayu Kindergarten, Shanghai / Atelier Deshaus
Architect: Atelier Deshaus (Liu Yichun/Zhuang Shen/Chen Yifeng)
Location: Huale Rd, Qingpu, Shanghai, China
Project Team: Chen Yifeng, Liu Yichun, Zhuang Shen, Fan Minji, Tang Yu
Site Area: 17070 sqm
Building Area: 6328 sqm
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Zhang Siye
Spiral Gallery / Atelier Deshaus
Architect: Atelier Deshaus (Liu Yichun / Chen Yifeng)
Location: Tianzhu Rd, Jiading New Town, Shanghai, China
Project Team: Liu Yichun, Chen Yifeng, Fan Beilei
Project Year: 2011
Project Area: 250 sqm
Photographs: Shu He , Yao Li, Zhang Siye, Liu Yichun
Pass Plus Cafe / Imagine Native
Architect: Imagine Native
Location: Hongqiao Railway Station, Shanghai, China
Firm Principal: Edmond Tse (HKIA), F. Fung (HKIA), C. Lai
Client: Pass Plus Restaurant Management Co. Ltd.
Area: 140 sqm
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Kingkay Architectural Photography
Kindergarten of Jiading New Town / Atelier Deshaus
Architect: Atelier Deshaus (Liu Yichun / Chen Yifeng)
Location: Hongde Rd, Jiading, Shanghai, China
Project Team: Chen Yifeng, Liu Yichun, Wang Shuyi, Liu Qian, Gao Lin
Building Area: 660 sqm
Site Area: 12100 sqm
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Shu He
Shang XIA / Kengo Kuma & Associates
Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates
Location: No. SL1-01, F1, South tower, Hongkong Plaza, 283 Huaihai Middle Road, Shanghai, PRC
Project name: SHANG XIA
Client: Shang xia
Design Period: 2009.08-2009.12
Construction Period: 2010.03-2010.06
Principal use: Retail
Total floor area: 126 sqm
Stories: 1 story
Photographs: Courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates
Administration Building of the North Shanghai Gas Company in Jiading / Atelier Deshaus
Architect: Atelier Deshaus (Liu Yichun / Chen Yifeng)
Location: Yining & Yongsheng Rd. Jiading, Shanghai, China
Design Team: Chen Yifeng, Liu Yichun, Liu Qian
Project Area: 2250 sqm
Project Year: 2009
Photographs: Shu He
‘An Imprint of Spain in China’ Exhibition
In tribute of the 80th anniversary of the death of Abelardo Lafuente, Polifactory organized and designed ‘An Imprint of Spain in China’ exhibition in Shanghai during this past December which centered around his legacy. The exhibition, featuring the hidden story of Spanish architecture in China, was the result of the research overseen by Alvaro Leonardo, co-founder and director of Polifactory about Abelardo Lafuente (1871-1931), the first Spanish architect in China, who introduced the moorish spanish style in Shanghai, and was responsible for the design of some of the most luxurious ballrooms in Asia and other landmarks of the city. More information on the exhibition after the break.
Shanghai Zhangpu Civic Center / Kalarch Design Group
Shanghai Zhangpu civic center, designed by Kalarch Design Group, is an administration and government complex organized like a city and structured in three concepts, government, business and public services. The overall circular layout is based on the shape of local traditional jade ware, which symbolizes peace and harmony. The open layout with a central courtyard also expresses their hope for a more modern and friendly government. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Re-thinking Shanghai 2012 Competition
Architectural firm 10 Design from Shanghai and Hong Kong is inviting anyone of all ages – architects, students artists, all who are interested – to take part at their recently started competition, Re-thinking Shanghai 2012.
Partly driven by social and ecological sustainability issues of today’s society, they are trying to change the way people perceive architecture in China by providing new solutions for areas witnessing major transformation in recent past. All entries must be submitted by March 28th. For more information, visit their official website here.
TIPS Fashion Store / ///byn
Architects: ///byn
Location: Nanchang Road / Ruijin Road, Shanghai, China
Principals: Nicolas Salto del Giorgio & Bittor Sanchez-Monasterio
Collaborators: Audrius Liaugminas, Sun JiaQiu, Luke Webster & LI Min
Construction: Shanghai Laijiang Decorate Design Co, Ltd.
Area: 105 sqm
Completed: July 2011
Client: TIPS
Photographs: Jiang Yong
The Urban Crossing / Aedas
Anchoring at the end of the proposed Hongqiao primary retail axis in Shanghai, and with a canal meandering through the northern edge of the site, the Linkong Block 10-1 Development is the destination for the public within the Linkong Business Park. The program for the development, ‘The Urban Crossing’, calls for a boutique urban mixed-use project with office, retail, gallery, conference center, and water promenade plaza. This concept by Aedas is to create a brand new landmark, which further establishes a strong civic presence through its iconic form and vibrant program mix. Portrayed as the Gateway of Hongqiao Airport Transportation Hub, the project is deemed to generate synergy from public and commercial activities. More images and architects’ description after the break.
AND-SuperPress-SuperBla Office / Naço Architectures
Architects: Naço Architectures
Location: Shanghai, China
Project Area: 80 sqm
Photographs: Xu Wen Lei
Korean Corporate Pavilion / UnSangDong Architects
Designed for the ShangHai Industrial Pavilion, UnSangDong Architects imagined the Korean Corporate Pavilion coinciding along the subjects of green city and green life. It is named Communi-Imagination and it holds the introspection of environment together with innovation of technology. Korea got over the unfortunate situation of the Korean War which didn’t seem to be possible and has achieved unimaginable development and innovation. This space represents technology and spirit of Korean enterprises which is the main agent of these accomplishments. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Architecture City Guide: Shanghai
This week, with the help of our readers, our Architecture City Guide is headed to Shanghai. Shanghai is noted for having more Art Deco buildings than any other city, including László Hudec’s Park Hotel, which is not on our list but will be added in a future guide. Like many cities in China, Shanghai’s rapid growth has meant a boon in contemporary architecture styles. We put together a list of 12 modern/contemporary buildings that we feel provides a good starting point. It is far from complete. There are dozens of other great buildings that are not our list, and we are looking to add to the list in the near future. Please add your favorites in the comment section below so we can add them on the second go around. Again thank you to all our readers who sent in their suggestions and photographs. The city guides would not be possible without your help.
To check out other cities visit our world map or our Architecture City Guide page.
The Architecture City Guide: Shanghai list and corresponding map after the break.
Rabbit: The Light Gallery Exhibition / dEEP Architects
This exhibition space design by dEEP Architects is for an art exhibition titled ‘Heaven’ that is being held in Shanghai’s trend setting shopping destination Xin Tian Di Shopping Mall. The form of a rabbit was chosen because in the Chinese culture this year is the Year of the Rabbit. More images and architects’ description after the break.
