China Merchant’s Bank Headquarters by Norman Foster
The China Merchants Bank Headquarters by British architecture studio Foster + Partners has topped out in Shenzhen. Images of the skyscraper's construction progress show the height of its structural core and facades made from steel and triangular glass panels taking shape around it. Once complete, the upper portion of the 388-meter-tall building will have a staggered shape topped with landscaped terraces. The tower achieves three stars in the Chinese ‘Assessment Standard for Green Building’ - the highest rating available.
The building's wide curved windows offer spectacular views of Shenzhen Bay. Cut to reflect the light, they glisten in the sun and reflect movement in the sky above them. The south-facing façade incorporates a series of triangulated bay windows, inspired by traditional Chinese paper folding. In contrast, the building’s northern facade is characterized by its simple, rectilinear form. The tower’s façade, made from glass and stainless steel, is the result of an iterative modeling process to minimize the energy consumption of active systems by carefully balancing solar shading, daylight, and thermal loads.
The mixed-use development, on the south side of the site, responds to the urban scale and character of its surroundings. The development includes retail and cultural facilities for the local community, as well as offices, a hotel and a conference center. A central axis connects the city’s public park with the tower and intercepts with two new plazas. The vibrant central plaza will host a variety of events and is surrounded by shops and restaurants on all sides.
References:
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