China

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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Aedas recently unveiled their master plan proposal for the CTS Temple of Heaven Performance Zone. Located in Beijing, their concept consists of a trio of urban, garden and lake environments while aiming to become the capital’s core cultural and commercial district and establish an international modern city life standard. More images and architects’ description after the break.

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• Architects

  UNStudio

• Location

  Wenzhou, China

• Architects in Charge

  Ben van Berkel, Astrid Piber

• Design Team

  Hannes Pfau, Ger Gijzen, Juliane Maier, Martin Zangerl and Sontaya Bluangtook, Amanda Chan, Albert Gnodde, Jan Kokol, Patrik Noome, Mo Lai, Jan Rehders, René Rijkers, Stefano Rocchetti, Shuang Zhang

• Project Year

  2013

• Photographs

  Courtesy of UNStudio

• Location

  Wenzhou, China

• Project Year

  2013

• Photographs

  Courtesy of UNstudio

Aedas recently won the competition to design Xuhui Binjian Media City 188S-G-1 Tower and Podium with their very dynamic and unique shaped proposal. Located in Shanghai, their tower begins with an extruded rectangular plan, and independent from the podium, meets the ground to allow circulation around its base. More images and architects’ description after the break.

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Gehry Partners have just released their highly anticipated proposal for the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) in Beijing. Though rumors from last year reported Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel as the competition’s top contenders, with Nouvel taking the lead, a winner has yet to be confirmed.

Gehry’s design, which is intended to promote cross cultural understanding and appreciation for Chinese contemporary art, aims at setting a new standard for 21st century Chinese architecture. Perhaps the most defining element of the design is the “translucent stone” facade, a new type of glass developed by Gehry Partners that is said to have the qualities of jade.

More images and the architect’s description after the break...

JAPA Architects shared with us their proposal, Dyv-net, Dynamic Vertical Networks, which deals with the development of modern, efficient and environmentally acceptable farming structures. Located in the Tai Po District, the second largest administrative district in Hong Kong, the architects foresee a paradigm shift to vertical agriculture structures which can be integrated into a territorial network along the country. More images and architects' description after the break.