Shanghai, China
Christine Lam and David Clayton of Aedas were enlisted by Anar Group to revive an abandoned factory building surrounded by high-density residential blocks into a mixed-use development with office spaces and integrated cultural and retail facilities located in the Changning District of Shanghai.
IM Shanghai was recently awarded a 2022 International Architecture Awards Honorable Mention by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Responding to its surroundings, the design objective provides a vibrant streetscape and through the careful articulation of the office tower, ensures that surrounding residential property isn’t adversely shaded.
The concept references Chinese landscape painting, with office towers expressed as mountain peaks, celebrating the powerful taper forms with diagonal cuts, leading the eyes to the top.
The tower façade design is inspired by the Chinese landscape painting by applying layering to create a mountainous silhouette as if depicting a painting using “void” and “solid” bands, which at the same time fulfill the glazing/wall ratio requirement.
Each tower is naturally varied in form and organically oriented while also designed for the practicability and flexibility of the interior space.
The tower has an efficient core and the typical plans are mostly square with reasonable depth.
The lift zoning allows the core size to be reduced to preserve good core-to-window depth, and efficient office space, in the tapering forms.
The inclined columns with structure transformation, together with the changes in the building form create a unique silhouette while still delivering practical usable space.
The design philosophy of IM Shanghai is to inject “work, play, and cultural” into an existing neighborhood where infrastructure supports greater density.
It offers a symbiosis of experience and social functionality within the framework of a connected hub development.
Rather than a large podium set back from the road creating isolated island buildings, the design adopts a cluster of blocks and towers.
The masterplan takes the essence of the “Li Long” streetscape enhancing the porosity and connectivity on and below grade.
Sunken streets are laid under the existing road network to provide barrier and traffic-free circulation for pedestrians, improving connection to transportation for the district.
The unique mountain forms resulting from solar shading calculation create a recognizable building cluster.
A series of plazas and courtyards are provided for social gathering that promotes human interaction and street vibrancy.
Project: IM Shanghai
Architects: Aedas
Lead Architects: Christine Lam and David Clayton
General Contractor: CSCEC
Client: Anar Group
Photographs Courtesy of the Architects
