China

Located in the core area of Kunming Chenggong New C.B.D, the main challenge for the design of the Southwest International Ethnic Culture and Art Center was to integrate the local cultures plus various functional programs into one contemporary yet harmonious form. Designed by team members Wang Wensheng, Damian Donze and Sidney Gong of the Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute, their winning proposal takes on an abstract path to integrate the local cultures. More images and architects’ description after the break.

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Invited to take part in the competition setup by the site’s promoter, GWA (Grow Wealth Assets) in March this year, DOS Architects’ proposal for the Mixed Use development in Beijing was just announced as the winner. With the challenge of producing a unique and iconic building, their ‘Cantilevering courtyard tower’ consists of 219,000 sqm of mixed-use space including a hotel, office space, retail and residential units. More images and architects’ description after the break.

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gmp Architekten's touring exhibition, 'Designing in Dialogue: The Architecture of von Gerkan, Marg and Partners' is currently being hosted by the Chinese National Museum in Beijing until August 25. In this exhibition, gmp will provide an overview of their work: sketches and drawings provide an idea of the conceptual thoughts, models present designs in three dimensions and photos document the completed buildings. The exhibited gmp projects are grouped regionally by continent and in six categories which cover important fundamental, practical and theoretical aspects of gmp’s work. More information after the break.

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This 33-story SOHO Hailun Plaza is currently being constructed in the dense city of Shanghai. Located at the intersection of two metro lines, the plaza will include a 130-meter office tower and five mixed-use podiums. The design, by UNStudio, treats each structure as a set of objects shaped by the flow of commuters. Each facade will be cloaked in a similar, faceted texture that will “change in appearance when approached from different directions.”

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On schedule to be China’s tallest and the world’s second tallest skyscraper, the Gensler -designed Shanghai Tower has topped out at 632 meters (2,074 feet). Upon completion in 2014, the spiraling megastructure will complete a trio of towers - including the adjacent Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center - to become the centerpiece of the city’s Lujiazui commercial district - one of Asia’s leading financial centers which developed from farmland in just over 20 years.

Defined by series of distinctive sky gardens, the state-of-the-art tower will house Class-A office and retail space, along with a luxury hotel and cultural venues. 

Continue reading to learn how the Shanghai Tower’s structure saved millions and why it will achieve LEED Gold.

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• Architects

  Kokaistudios

• Location

  Shanghai, China

• Design Team

  Andrea Destefanis, Filippo Gabbiani, Pietro Peyron, Li Wei, Carmen Lee, Wang Yun, Coco Cheng

• Local Architect

  Tong Ji Architecture Design Research Institute

• Area

  35500.0 sqm

• Project Year

  2013

• Photographs

  Charlie Xia

• Location

  Shanghai, China

• Project Year

  2013

• Photographs

  Charlie Xia

• Area

  35500.0 m2

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• Architects

  Studio Libeskind

• Location

  Wuhan, China

• Architect Of Record

  Zhong Nan Design Institute

• Contractor

  G.C Wisco Construction

• Area

  7240.0 sqm

• Photographs

  Courtesy of Studio Daniel Libeskind

• Location

  Wuhan, China

• Photographs

  Studio Daniel Libeskind

• Area

  7240.0 m2

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LYCS Architecture has shared drawings and renderings for their Shanghai Hongqiao CBD Office Headquarters Building, which broke ground this month. Situated in a rapidly developing part of western Shanghai and at the center of a transportation hub, the project is scheduled to be completed in 2014.

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