There is something peaceful and calming about river pebbles. These smooth, moss-covered stones can provide an appearance of order, fitting together like a natural mosaic, which is probably why they are often times used to decorate spaces ranging from shower floors and walls to outdoor paths and gardens.
But the river pebble design Aedas has created in their 18-story office building, dubbed Lè Architecture, is on a different level; the building itself has been created to resemble one giant, moss-covered river pebble and, as ArchDaily reports, will provide a unique work environment near the Jilong River.
Acting as the moss for this giant pebble, a series of vertical green belts on the building’s west side provide sunshading for the interior office spaces. Meanwhile, the north and south ends are covered in vegetated outdoor terraces.
The office spaces all exist on one side of the building, while “urban living rooms” occupy the other side. The offices and urban living rooms are all centered around communal areas with kitchens, coffee shops, libraries, and breakout spaces.
The project hopes to achieve LEED Gold certification through incorporating a glass façade optimized for construction feasibility and vertical aluminum fins and green planters meant to lower the interior temperature in the summer via sunshading, lessening the need for mechanical cooling.
The project, which is well underway, is scheduled for a 2017 completion.
Image courtesy of Aedas
Image courtesy of Aedas
Image courtesy of Aedas
Image courtesy of Aedas
Image courtesy of Aedas
Related Stories
| Nov 18, 2011
Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability opens
Designed to exceed LEED Platinum, the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) is one of the most innovative and high performance buildings in North America today, demonstrating leading-edge green building design products, technologies, and systems.
| Nov 17, 2011
Hollister Construction Services renovating bank in Union City, N.J.
Project is part of a series of ground-up construction and renovation assignments.
| Nov 16, 2011
Project completion of BRAC 132, Office of the Chief Army Reserve Building, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
This fast-tracked, design-build project consists of a three-story, 88,470 sf administrative command building housing approximately 430 employees.
| Nov 15, 2011
Struggling economy demands construction industry embrace enterprise-wide risk management
In today’s business environment of high supply and limited demand, it has become especially vital for organizations in the construction sector to effectively manage risk.
| Nov 15, 2011
Miller joins Perkins Eastman as regional manager, Middle East and Northern Africa
Miller joins Perkins Eastman with more than 48 years of experience in architecture, design management, and construction administration for planning and infrastructure.
| Nov 14, 2011
VanSumeren appointed to Traco general manager
VanSumeren will draw on his more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing management and engineering to deliver operational and service excellence and drive profitable growth for Traco.
| Nov 11, 2011
By the Numbers
What do ‘46.9,’ ‘886.2,’ and ‘171,271’ mean to you? Check here for the answer.
| Nov 11, 2011
AIA: Engineered Brick + Masonry for Commercial Buildings
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.
| Nov 11, 2011
How Your Firm Can Win Federal + Military Projects
The civilian and military branches of the federal government are looking for innovative, smart-thinking AEC firms to design and construct their capital projects. Our sources give you the inside story.
| Nov 10, 2011
Thornton Tomasetti’s Joseph and Choi to co-chair the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s Outrigger Design Working Group
Design guide will describe in detail the application of outriggers within the lateral load resisting systems of tall buildings, effects on building behavior and recommendations for design.