foster + partners: hongqiao vantone sunnyworld centre, shanghai breaks ground

‘hongqiao vantone sunnyworld centre’ by foster + partners all images courtesy of foster + partners

the ‘hongqiao vantone sunnyworld centre’ is a new sustainable masterplan for a prominent site situated at the heart of the shanghai hongqiao CBD in china. designed by foster + partners, the project has just broken ground and will form a large section of an expansive urban plan that extends from shanghai’s main station.

a new four-hectare public park will be home to a mixed-use community will include efficient, flexible office buildings that will border the linear greenspace, oriented to minimize solar gains and overall views of the surrounding area. these will be animated at ground level by shops, restaurants and a variety of new civic spaces. the structural arrangement will be laid out as triangular fingers, intersecting to create visual connections between ground level and the offices above. slender floor plates will be incorporated – encouraging sustainable design in the city – maximizing daylight and natural ventilation, while also providing a solution which can be easily adapted to future changes. the park culminates in a landmark building, its scale responding to its location as the ‘end point’ of the development, in relation to the canal and city quarter beyond.

the buildings are arranged as triangular fingers

‘we aim to create a destination and a genuine public place that is a positive contribution to the future growth of shanghai, but is also rooted in the spirit of the past and the traditions of this great city – lively and bustling, filled with the business of everyday life. we have had wonderful support from the local government and our collaborators at the SIADR and it is great to now start construction on this very ambitious project.’ – grant brooker, senior partner, design director on the project

the site is situated within a new four-hectare park

project info:

client: vantone real estate co. ltd and sunnyworld group co. ltd location: shanghai hongqiao CBD, china project type: mixed use – offices, exhibition, commercial site area: 28,000m² office buildings: 60,000m² exhibition: 3,000m² commercial: 70,000m²