Updates: Chengdu Wuzhou International Plaza by SDA
Last January, Synthesis Design + Architecture Inc. awarded the first place in the invited international design competition for the Shanghai Wuzhou International Plaza. The proposal embodies the energy and vibrancy of the cities distinct urban environment. Inspired by traditional Chinese concepts of Yin and Yang. The Shanghai Wuzhou International plaza is located along Huatai Road in the third ring of the urban metropolis of Shanghai. The project contains two blocks, the northern block features an enclosed 4 story luxury retail shopping podium anchored by the corporate headquarters of developer Hong Kong Wuzhou International Group and a 5 star hotel tower. While the southern block contains a 4 level retail, lifestyle and entertainment complex anchored by two office towers. More details come from the architect after the jump.
Courtesy of Synthesis Design + Architecture Inc
With two sites, two retail podiums and three towers, our primary design intent was to unify the various programs, buildings, and parcels into a single and cohesive identity.
Inspired by the flowing ribbons and choreographed movements of traditional Chinese Ribbon dances, our proposal for the Chengdu Lotus Pond Development seeks to recreated the elegance of the flowing ribbons and the notion of the projects form not as a collage of platonic objects, but rather as a choreographed composition of dancing surfaces which come together, peel apart, and are in constant yet synchronized movement. Architecture emerges in the space between (both inside and outside) the choreographed surfaces. The project is articulated as a collection of dynamic bands which simultaneously wrap the two podiums, connect the two sites (in the form of 3 connective sky bridges), define a unifying external courtyard and merge the horizontal (2 retail podiums) with the vertical (3 office towers).
Courtesy of Synthesis Design + Architecture Inc
The wrapping moves of the retail podiums articulate two opposing external courtyards which collectively form a single courtyard experience that starts at ground level at the pedestrian street and dips down to a lower ground level that spatially unifies the two sites visually at upper floors and literally at the ground and lower ground levels.
