Conrad Hotel Beijing

Architects: MAD Location: Beijing, China Structural Engineers: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) Mechanical Engineers: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) Façade/cladding consultants: King General Engineering, SuP Ingenieure GmbH Interior Designers: Lim.Teo + Wilkes Design Works Pte Ltd Landscape Designer: Earthasia Design Group Site Area: 7,779 sqm Constructed Area: 56,994 sqm Building height: 106 meters Images: MAD

The CBD of Beijing was built according to the west standard set up around the industrial revolution of the early 20th century, when high-rise building was the symbol of the capitalism. But far from the ambition of more than one hundred year ago, when people tried to challenge themselves with modern technology and future dreams, the contemporary CBD buildings are the concrete machines, copy of the copy in mass production. They are meaningless, crowded and soulless.

Situated among those buildings, Conrad hotel is the outcome of the slow-design. The façade element, which looks like the nervous tissue, is planted into a simple cubic. It is the toxin that destroys and transforms the surface into an organic envelop. The whole building is turned into a melting box, a starting point for the urban grid to change from the solid efficiency into the liquid idea. The standard product of the production line is therefore replaced by the digital craft of difference.

During the architecture evolution, people of different historical time tried to create organic buildings by their hand-made crafts. Their works are the representation of the worship of nature, the courage to break the heaviness of building and the passion of life. It is the spirit of sublime that became the culture icon of the era and the city. Conrad hotel is the design that appreciates the slowness in the fast urban development in China. The product of architecture is like the growing process of urban dwellers in the city, it is the evolution of energy and identity. The new urban efficiency is the difference precisely controlled and produced by the high-tech modern industry, and it creates the new possibility for people living in the city to discover their own new experience.

Source: ArchDaily

This type of buildings are made possible by the advance in computer graphics whereby the architects can now let their imagination go wild with the help of 3D modelling tools. Graphics below is not possible during the time when draftspersons relied on their skillful hand in detailing architectural drawings.

Eden Singapore Apartments

As the name implies, one can expect to experience the hanging gardens of Eden living in this apartment designed by Heatherwick Studio. The ripple configuration of the shell shaped planters is particularly dramatic seeing from the street level.

Source: Archdaily

SOM's Masterplan For Shenzhen

Establishing strong connections between urban and nature, tradition and innovation, and economy and culture, SOM has designed a master plan for the Central Area of Guangming District, Shenzhen, China. A new benchmark of ecologically integrated development, the project will lead the next generation of urban growth in the Greater Bay Area.

Located at the intersection of Shenzhen’s “emerald necklace” of protected natural landscapes that frame the city, and the eastern bank of the Pearl River Delta high-tech industry development corridor, the development is surrounded by mountains, water, and at a business node. Commissioned in 2018 to design the urban design master plan for the Guangming Central District, SOM has proposed to transform small-plot farmlands into Shenzhen’s premier sustainable urban district.

“Central to the success of the master plan is the integration of new open spaces that build upon existing topographical, hydrological and landscape systems of the area”. In fact, open spaces account for over 40% of the total project, with the Science Park as the centerpiece of the system, with a wide range of recreational, cultural, and unique agricultural uses. Moreover, the scheme blurs the boundaries of the Science Park in order to create a stronger overall landscape system that expands into the urban environment via streets, smaller open spaces and plazas, and within architecture.

The Transit-Oriented Development project is situated immediately adjacent to two new metro stations, while the commercial business district is situated at the eastern edge of Science Park, generating commercial offices, retail, residential and cultural uses; and the northern edge consists of retail, hotel, and residential uses. Finally, the southern neighborhoods provide a unique mix of cultural and sports-oriented uses that promote health, wellness, and active lifestyles.

Defining the image of the Central Area and highlighting the “ecological genes” of the district, the 23-hectare Science Park North site is the first phase of development at Guangming Central District. Designed to incorporate a landmark tower, cultural themed retail center, residential, and the Xuefu Hill Park, this area emphasizes the integration of architecture and landscape, creating an urban platform for healthy and sustainable living. The architecture of the start-up parcels will create a new icon for Guangming that represents both its agricultural heritage and its technology-driven future. Designed to optimize pedestrian flows and provide maximum connectivity between transit, living, and working within the North district, the proposal provides convenient access to retail, commercial and hotel uses for visitors and workers, and enhance the livability of the project for residents.

Source: Archdaily

Top 20 Tallest Buildings In The World

 As of August 2020, the ranking of world's tallest buildings are as follow:

1. Burj Khalifa
2. Shanghai Tower
3. Makkah Royal Clock Tower
4. Ping An Finance Center
5. Lotte World Tower
6. One World Trade Center
7. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre
8. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre
9. CITIC Tower
10. TAIPEI 101
11. Shanghai World Financial Center
12. International Commerce Centre
13. Lakhta Center
14. Vincom Landmark 81
15. Changsha IFS Tower T1
16. Petronas Twin Towers
17. Suzhou IFS
18. Zifeng Tower
19. The Exchange 106
20. Willis Tower

75% of the tallest buildings are located in Asia.

1) Burj Khalifa

2) Shanghai Tower

3) Makkah Royal Clock Tower

4) Ping An Finance Center

5) Lotte World Tower

6) One World Trade Center

7) Guangzhou CTF Finance Center

8) Tianjin CTF Finance Centre

9) CITIC Tower

10) TAIPEI 101

11) Shanghai World Financial Center

12) International Commerce Centre

13) Lakhta Center

14)  Vincom Landmark 81

15) Changsha IFS Tower T1

16) Petronas Twin Towers

17) Suzhou IFS

18) Zifeng Tower

19) The Exchange 106

20) Willis Tower

Source: ArchDaily

Shenzhen Prince Plaza

Another iconic works by OMA although looks a bit conservative when compares to their previous works. Nevertheless, this tower enhance the skyline of Shenzhen.

Raffles City Chongqing

Raffles City Chongqing is like Marina Bay Sands on steroid! Designed by the same architect Moshe Safdie, this futuristic mini-city drastically changes the skyline of the city of Chongqing in China.