Heatherwick Studio has announced plans for West Bund Orbit, a new exhibition hall on Shanghai, China’s bustling West Bund shoreline. The structure will serve as the centerpiece of the Xuhui District’s new Financial Hub. The project will become an iconic structure along the Huangpu riverbank, serving as a fundamental gathering place that invites people to participate in its social and cultural design program.
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“We encourage visitors to take their time and look around the display. The ‘Orbit’ isn’t just a gallery with a pretty façade; it will actually become something when people start going there. Its riverside perch makes it an instant icon of Shanghai, drawing visitors not just to the West Bund for its events but to the city as a whole.” Team Leader of Heatherwick Studio, Neil Hubbard.
West Bund Orbit: The Concept
The West Bund Orbit is conveniently located at the site’s quadrant, making it accessible from all sides. The design prioritizes the exhibition space by positioning it at the ground level and stacking the ancillary areas above-bottom level features a supplementary gallery that wraps around the outer edge of the main hall and comprises expansive windows that allow natural light and views outside. Large windows invite curious onlookers to peek inside and catch some scenes of the shows and exhibits.
The West Bund Orbit is an indoor/outdoor public area in the heart of the city’s newest neighborhood and linked to the riverside park’s cultural attractions—the ribbon-like exterior features sweeping stairwells, bridges, and patios that are all open to visitors. In addition, the rooftop garden and other observation decks are accessible via these structural elements.
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The futuristic-looking spiral staircases are based on classic Chinese moon bridges. Their intended effect is to provide the sense of continuous spinning. Glassed-in apertures in the façade frame the main entrances on each floor, displaying the interior exhibition hall as guests ascend to the roof. On the top base, the ribbons stretch into a canopy that allows for breathtaking panoramas of the river and the surrounding West Bund neighborhood.
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The West Bund Orbit exhibition hall stands across from where Heatherwick Studio’s Seed Cathedral served as the United Kingdom’s pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. Over 8 million visitors went through this building at the Expo, and its pavilion design earned first place.
