open hand by JDS architects rises above qingdao in china

open hand by JDS architects rises above qingdao in china
all images courtesy of JDS architects

construction is underway on china’s eastern coast at the site of ‘qingdao open hand’, a large scale development designed by JDS architects. to be completed in two separate phases, the scheme is envisioned as five fingers, connected by its ‘palm’ – a large open public space that covers the building’s respective rooftops and provides views out to sea.

at ground floor level an expansive public square welcomes guests to the site

responding to the region’s urban complexities, the first stage of the project involves the realization of 180,000 square meters of commercial office space, to be contained within the two most prominent digits of the hand. at ground floor level an expansive public square welcomes guests to the site, with a generous provision of parking found below street level.

the two monolithic blocks have been shaped to maximize external views

two monolithic blocks, shaped to maximize external views, rise above the landscape, connected by a plinth that is elevated above the entry plaza. repeated circular apertures of varying diameters line the building’s distinctive façades, ensuring that internal volumes share a close relationship with the surrounding environment.

the foyer and entrance to the office buildings

‘qingdao open hand’ viewed from the passing street

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project info:

project: office building
size: 183,000 sqm
location: qingdao, china
creative authorship: julien de smedt
client: baosteel
team: MUDI
project leader: andrew griffin
type: invited competition
status: 1st prize, under construction 2014
project team: edna lueddecke, francisco villeda, henning stuben, jakub poplawksi, julia park, nicolai palsbo, pawel panfiluk and sara pereira