A new skyscraper with a green breach in the middle. CIMC in Shenzhen

In Shenzhen, China, architects from the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill studio have designed a futuristic skyscraper in the shape of an hourglass. The constriction of the volume is intended to conceal green viewing terraces that are accessible to all. The new headquarters of the Chinese shipping container manufacturer will feature energy-saving, photovoltaic, carbon-reducing technologies and much more. Approximately 60,000 employees are expected to work in the 270m tall building, and the city’s residents will be able to take advantage of a publicly accessible service and shopping area.

Reclaimed land

The SOM studio responsible for projects such as One World Trade Center, Burj Khalifa and Willis Tower has designed the new headquarters of the CIMC corporation. Interestingly, the skyscraper is being built in a new service and business district in Shenzhen. The Qianhai neighbourhood was created as a result of reefing, a process of artificially widening the coastline. The city’s western bay is the site of commercial cooperation between two of South China’s most important cities, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

In the tall glass block, the architects have ‘cut out’ intricate constrictions in which commercial and retail sections have been placed. Already from street level, multi-level terraces with trees and restaurants are noticeable. Such “hanging gardens” appear in two more places. Particularly impressive is the central terrace cut out in the middle of the skyscraper. In contrast, the best views are offered by the several-storey enclosed terrace at the top of the building. According to SOM, the building’s design is inspired by traditional Chinese scroll paintings on which landscapes were immortalised. The mountains depicted on these vertical scrolls were characterised by varied land forms. The CIMC skyscraper is thus a vertical painting. Another interesting example of ‘hanging terraces’ in high-rise architecture is New York’s The Spiral, which you can read about HERE. In contrast, cut-outs in the massing were also used by KPF architects in the 8 Canada Square skyscraper.

Zobacz

Vertical gardens

The area around the building will be developed into an accessible plaza and sizable park for passers-by. Good access to rest, recreation and green areas will raise the standard of the high-rise, and the architects hope to achieve WELL Platinum certification. In turn, energy-efficient systems and carbon-reducing technologies will guarantee the investment a worldwide LEED certification and its Chinese equivalent Three-Star Green Building. The skyscraper will boast integrated photovoltaic technology and an intelligent sunlight sensing system. Construction of the new skyscraper in Shenzhen is expected to be completed in 2029.

It is important to note that lush vegetation on sky terraces comes with many challenges. Inappropriate plant species may not survive in harsh, windy conditions. What’s more, plants need to be supplied with large amounts of water and nutrients, which are usually extracted from the soil. The intricate design of green high-rise buildings is therefore a challenge, but also an opportunity. Gardens in office buildings absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, and in addition improve the wellbeing of employees. Opponents of biophilic designs accuse green skyscrapers of the inefficiency of such solutions and purely aesthetic benefits. However, the extreme pragmatic approach often excludes important intangible benefits for humans, such as the wellbeing derived from a plant-based environment.

Photo source: SOM

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