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

Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza - The Modern Pagoda

From the architect. The Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)-designed Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza has opened its doors to its office users. The circular 60-story tower takes its place as the tallest building in the central Chinese city. Located in the northeast portion of Zhengzhou, the 919-feet (280-meter) tall tower’s circular form is a response to the surrounding development’s shape that centers on a manmade lake. Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza punctuates the neighborhood and provides the area—and the city—with an iconic new landmark on the skyline. 

The 2.59-million-square-feet (240,169-square-meters) building houses a mixed-use program of offices on its lower floors and a 416-key hotel above. Daylighting was a key driver of the building’s design. Sophisticated three- to five-story-tall light-gauge painted aluminum screens are configured at an outward cant that enhances interior daylighting through scientifically calculated reflections while protecting the all-glass exterior from solar gain. The screens provide multiple performance and aesthetic-related roles. The same outward cant that aids daylighting allows for a nuanced approach to artificial lighting, providing outboard locations for dramatic nighttime lighting of the building that make the tower a beacon. The screens are located between one and two-meters from the building’s curtain wall—allowing window washing to occur behind the screens. Their visual porosity varies depending on a viewer’s location. When close to the building’s base, the tower appears to be primarily metal; from a distance, the panels are more open and the building’s glass nature is revealed. The rhythmic cant of the screens, combined with their decreasing size as they rise on the building, creates a dynamic movement that gives the building a fine-grained texture that relates to the building’s humanistic aspirations. 

The form of the tower tapers slightly as it rises. “We conceived the building as a classical column,” SOM Design Director Ross Wimer says. “Its iconic image comes from this timeless form—adapted with cutting-edge, 21st century technologies to create a building that expresses our time.” These innovations include a heliostat that crowns the building and reflects daylight throughout the hotel atrium. “Like the solar screening, the heliostat is a scientifically-derived element that enhances the experience of daylight for the building’s users,” Wimer says. The device allows daylight to be reflected and focused into the atrium whose surfaces are finished to help drive light deep into the space. Computer-controlled dimmer switches modulate the light level-based on the illumination provided by the reflector, enabling the atrium to consume less energy and generate less heat throughout the year. 

Wimer notes that, while not unheard of, circular skyscrapers remain somewhat unusual. Among the best known examples are Bertrand Goldberg’s Marina City (179 meters) in Chicago, Sir Norman Foster’s 30 St. Mary Axe (180 meters) in London, Jean Nouvel’s Torre Agbar (145 meters) in Barcelona, and Adolf Loos’ unbuilt scheme for the Chicago Tribune Tower. 

Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza’s status as the tallest building in the city adds to SOM’s well-established legacy of tall buildings. SOM-designed buildings top the skylines of many cities worldwide, including Chicago, New York, Beijing, Kuwait City, Milwaukee, and Dubai—whose Burj Khalifa is the tallest structure in the world.  Zhengzhou is a prefecture-level city located on the south bank of the Yellow River and the capital of Henan province with 8.6 million residents. Greater Zhengzhou was recently named one of China’s 13 emerging megacities by the Economist Intelligence Unit. 

SOM secured the commission for the project by winning an international competition. Prior to its completion, Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza has already been honored for its design by the Asia Pacific Property Awards and the Chicago Athenaeum. Its innovative curtain wall was recognized by Architect magazine’s R+D Awards program.

Source: Archdaily 

Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza is built with the latest technology available today and yet it resembles the ancient pagodas of China. Its form is truly inspired by China's long history of culture and architecture. The influence of Chinese architecture may not be admitted by the architect but the end result is too obvious for one to ignore its resemblance to ancient icons all over China. 

The site is simply picturesque thanks to the central lake that seems to bring all the buildings towards it. This type of design planning with architecture and landscape complementing each other can easily be traced back to the ancient gardens and parks all around China.

SOM's Towers In Nanchang China

Derived from the studies of molten metal, the twin towers by SOM will definitely become distinctly iconic structures once completed. The dynamic and fluid forms are made possible by parametric modeling software.

A City Inspired By Vision

As if it is not enough to have the world's tallest twin towers, KL is taking a step further to develop what will be the tallest building in Malaysia with the proposed KL Metropolis project. The name metropolis conjures up images of a futuristic city with vibrant society and superb transport system. It is a mind boggling project with 23 towers, 2 retail centers and a 100,000 sq.m. exhibition & convention center. The developer for this project is NAZA TTDI of NAZA Group which is Malaysia's largest luxury car importer. This high impact project is designed by skyscraper expert from New York Skidmore, Owings & Merill (SOM) who also designed the current world's tallest building, The Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Singapore's Tallest Tower In The Making

SOM's proposed Tanjong Pagar Centre will be the tallest tower in Singapore when it is completed in 2016. Rising to a height of 290m, the building is envisioned to be a business and lifestyle hub which contains office, residential, retail and hospitality components. The redesigned Tanjong Pagar City Park will house a unique public space in line with the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) mission of creating vibrant and lively public places. It is about gathering spaces in a sustainable urban environments.

The most unique component of the building is the proposed 'city room' which features public art and outdoor performance areas.

The design feature of this building is relatively conservative when compared to other notable SOM's works throughout the world including the world's tallest building Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Nevertheless, when completed, Tanjong Pagar Centre will definitely enhance the skyline of Singapore.

Another SOM's Tower In China

CWTC Beijing by SOM

Name: China World Trade Center (CWTC)

Architect: Skidmore Owing and Merrill LLP

Location: Beijing, China

Height: 280 meters

Unique Features:

• The bamboo shoot or pagoda like form is driven by practical factors. The exterior curtain wall is deliberately slanted at 3 degrees off vertical in order that the facade of this immense building could be self cleaned in the dusty Beijing's environment. It also helps to reduce glare to occupants within the tower and the reflection of light away from the interior contribute to 8% of energy load reduction. 

Digital Media City

Digital Media City designed by SOM, located in north of the Han River, Seol, Korea. When completed in 2014, it will be the tallest tower in East Asia with a height of 640m.

The elegant curve that rises up from ground all the way to the top gives the tower its distinctive form. It loudly announces its arrival to this city that is already overcrowded with skyscrapers. This will be the trend of future tall buildings around the world where form takes precedent over function. The modernist's ideology of Form Follows Function will gradually be overtaken by big corporations' aspiration to stand taller above everybody else. It is a matter of ego overpowers practicality and this will be an inevitable phenomenon for many years to come.