ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Shenzhen Software Industry Base in Shenzhen, China by gmp Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und PartnerMay 20th, 2015 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: gmp Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner The focus of the Shenzhen metropolis is on national and international IT research and development. A core project for strengthening the IT industry is the „Shenzhen Software Industry Base“, for the first plot of which the architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners won the design commission as part of an international competition in 2009; this has now been completed.
The urban design for the entire precinct, of which the gmp design forms a part, specifies a dense development of research, administration and service buildings comprising a total of 18 towers. These towers are grouped around a spread-out, low-rise development in the center, with the first plot now completed, and with its three towers forming the north-eastern end of the quarter. The overall intention was to create a coherent complex that links all tenants, but this was hampered by the fact that the site is divided into three parts by roads. The design overcomes this problem by placing one tower on each part of the site and linking the plinths via bridges to create a unified development. The buildings feature a series of bands in the elevations, resulting in a dynamic composition, with the spaces in between forming diverse multi-story atria, while also achieving a horizontal multi-story link between all towers. These meandering building volumes and their bridges create urban squares to the north and south, which also provide the addresses to the towers. While the towers accommodate the office areas, special functions such as conference areas, restaurants and small shops are located in the linking plinth structure, which can therefore be reached directly from all towers and from street level. In addition, the roof terrace on the 6th floor serves as a meeting point and connection between the different towers. The higher towers in the west and east of the complex, measuring 90 m and 100 m respectively, are topped by three-story sky lobbies, which accommodate additional restaurants and provide a view across the city to the Shenzhen bay to the south. The façade has been designed as a uniform metallic structure enveloping the buildings and reinforcing the sculptural effect. The grid has been composed of prismatic, perforated metal sheet elements that cover all openings for natural and mechanical ventilation, thus making it possible to provide large, un-divided glazed surfaces to the office areas. The 60 cm-deep façade elements also provide effective solar screening against the intensive solar irradiation prevalent in southern China. Categories: Building, Industrial, office Complex |