2014 - Design
Project Type: Commercial | Geography: China
Located in the southern node of a dynamic urban quarter in Taiyuan, this commercial development commands one of the most visible frontages. Envisioned as the City’s symbolic edifice, the mega-structure constitutes of two mixed-use buildings that tilt on opposite sides to lean away from the abutting residential towers. These leaning buildings are structurally stabilized by upper and lower bridges straddling over the New Tai Yu Road, a grand boulevard of the City. The lower retail bridge (similar to Rialto Bridge in Venice) reinforces the Government’s plan to facilitate easy and safe pedestrian movement across the wide boulevard. The roof of this mercantile bridge serves as an elevated garden open to the public for host of activities. The upper bridge in contrast is purely commercial in nature where an air-rights have been granted to partially fund the costs of an emblematic architecture representing the future of Taiyuan. This programmatic arrangement creates a ‘hole’ in the façade, symbolizing a window or an oculus of the City.
FACTS
Site Area: 1.6 Acres [68,400 SF] + Air-rights
Super Built-up Area: 734,000 GSF
Retail: 90,500 SF
Office: 643,500 SF
Upper Bridge: 96,000 SF
Lower Bridge: 30,500 SF
Design Director: Kiran Mathema
Project Team: Qian Li, Jiyuan Zhang, Junhao Jiang, Qin Kai, Anu Maharjan, Bibek Shrestha, Bipin Niraula.
