Qondesa Tower; MAD's first project in South America
The architecture firm MAD Architects, based in China, has presented the design of its first project in South America, the mixed-use "Qondesa" tower in Quito, Ecuador, which will soon become the tallest building in the city. MAD aspires to offer a design solution for integrating nature into high-density living with a vision of an ecological future. Inspired by its natural backdrop, MAD seeks to connect residents to the beauty of nature…
Habitat Qinghuangdao by Safdie Architects
The design for Phase I of Qinhuangdao Golden Dream Bay utilizes a series of units arranged in a stepped pattern, which results in a porous structure. The complex consists of a series of individual 15-story slab buildings that connect and stack vertically, in two tiers, rising to 30 stories. At level 15, between the tiers, a community thoroughfare links the building blocks and allows residents to traverse the entire complex surrounded by greenery and city…
MÉCA Cultural Center, France
The new 18,000 m2 MÉCA Cultural Center, creates a frame for the celebration of contemporary art, film, and performances. MÉCA, brings together three regional arts agencies – FRAC for contemporary art, ALCA for cinema, literature, and audiovisuals, and OARA for performing arts – into a loop. A series of steps and ramps lead the public directly into the 1,100 m2 outdoor urban room at the core of MÉCA. A permanent bronze sculpture depicting a half-head…
Shimao Qianhai Center, Tallest Twisted Tower in China
At nearly 300 meters tall, Shimao Qianhai Center in Shenzhen stands as the tallest twisted building in China and one of the world’s tallest structurally twisting buildings. The building tapers and simultaneously rotates, creating striking imagery with twisting curtain walls and structural columns. The positioning of the tower maximizes the views of the bay and the surrounding hills while minimizing views between towers. The tower’s rigorous geometry is based…
Zhengzhou Grand Theater, China
Chinese firm ADRI has completed a theatre in Henan Province with a metal-clad exterior. Zhengzhou Grand Theatre takes a 'boat of art sailing on the Yellow River' as the design concept. Externally, these ship-like forms intersect with one another, with the points where they meet becoming large, sheltered entrances into the foyers accessed by concrete steps. The project is a long-span building, with a length of 204m. Based on the characteristics of the architectural form,…
