Raffles City Hangzhou, China
Raffles City Hangzhou, designed by Dutch firm UNStudio, is a mixed-use development in the Chinese city of Hangzhou that accommodates a hotel, offices, apartments and shops, within a pair of sinuous towers connected by a podium and landscaped plaza. Described by the studio as "a sustainable urban hub for living, working and leisure", the development forms a prominent landmark in Hangzhou's new central business district, with a total area of almost 400,000 square meters spread across the two 250-metre towers, the podium building and the surrounding plaza.
Reflecting the movement in the river, the tower design features a wave-like motion. These concentric waves increase in their dynamism, starting calmly at the base and building up more vigorously along the vertical axis. The towers are arranged on an east-west axis that minimizes overshadowing and allows daylight to reach the apartments and offices.
The two 60-storey high-rises contain apartments, offices, the Conrad Hotel and a rooftop helipad, all with views towards the Qiantang River and the city's historic West Lake district. The six-story podium contains shop units, restaurants, leisure facilities, parking and a direct connection to the metro transportation system, with a main entrance on a corner facing the adjacent park and city center. The voids guide visitors along each wing that spans almost 150 meters in each direction. A skylight that covers the atrium frames views of the towers from anywhere in this area, and ensures natural light penetrates deep into the building through the two voids.
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Raffles City Hangzhou will be a point of confluence, a hub for business conduct and a new destination for visitors and residents alike; an ‘all-in-one’ destination for working, living and leisure in a highly sustainable environment.
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