Pleats may be out when it comes to pants, but Bjarke Ingels Group seems to think they look pretty good on skyscrapers.
The design firm’s new 96,000-sm office development for the Shenzhen Energy Company in Shenzhen, China uses an undulating building envelope that creates a rippled skin around the development’s two connected buildings. Folding parts of the envelope reduces solar loads and flare and creates a façade with closed and open parts that oscillate between transparency and opacity.
Photo: Chao Zhang.
The façade’s shape corresponds to the solar orientation, maximizing north-facing openings for natural light and views and minimizing exposure on the sunny sides. The façade is stretched out within the protruded areas of the buildings and two smooth deformations create large spaces for meeting rooms, executive clubs, and staff facilities. The façade system manages to reduce overall energy consumption of the building without any moving parts or complex technology.
See Also: WeWork names BIG’s Ingels as its Chief Architect
The development consists of two towers, a north tower that rises 220 meters and a south tower that rises 120 meters, that are linked together via a 34 meter podium. The podium contains main lobbies, a conference center, a cafeteria, and exhibition space.
Photo: Chao Zhang.
Visitors will enter from the north and south ends of the buildings while employees will enter from the front plaza into the naturally-lit plaza. The Shenzhen Energy Company offices will occupy the highest floors with the rest left available as rentable office space.
ARUP and Transsolar collaborated with BIG on the project, which started construction in 2012.
Photo: Chao Zhang.
Photo: Chao Zhang.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Jan 4, 2016
Top tall building predictions for 2016
Jetpack-based firefighting, pixelated towers, and high-rise rentals are among the innovations and themes coming to the tall buildings market in 2016, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
High-rise Construction | Jan 4, 2016
Amid high-rise office building boom, Boston grapples with corporate signage rules
City has few skyscrapers adorned with lit company names, logos.
High-rise Construction | Dec 18, 2015
Architect Mark Foster Gage proposes wildly ornate Gothic skyscraper for NYC
The 102-story tower, 41 West 57th Street, will have glass walls, balconies, and a carved stone façade.
High-rise Construction | Dec 8, 2015
Architect Eric Parry unveils design for London’s tallest building
At more than 1,000 feet, 1 Undershaft will rival The Shard in height.
High-rise Construction | Dec 8, 2015
Saudi Arabia secures funding for world’s first kilometer-tall skyscraper: Jeddah Tower
The tower will overtake the Burj Khalifa in terms of height, but how long will it remain king?
High-rise Construction | Nov 28, 2015
Anorexic skyscrapers keep popping up in Manhattan
One project slated to begin construction next spring is designed to be only 47 feet wide.
High-rise Construction | Nov 23, 2015
London approves designs for a 62-story tower
Scheduled to start construction next year and open in 2019, the structure will be London’s second tallest, after the 95-story Shard.
High-rise Construction | Nov 17, 2015
CTBUH awards '2015 Best Tall Building Worldwide' to Bosco Verticale
Designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri, the building design was applauded for its “extraordinary implementation of vegetation at such scale and height."
High-rise Construction | Nov 12, 2015
SHoP unveils Brooklyn supertall tower design
When completed, the 90-story tower will be the tallest building in the outer boroughs of New York City.
High-rise Construction | Oct 26, 2015
Recent skyscraper boom benefits New York construction industry
CTBUH reports that luxury residential construction, slenderness aspect ratios, and construction in "fringe" areas have all increased.
