kengo kuma wraps alibaba's taobao city in brise-soleil

kengo kuma wraps alibaba’s taobao city in brise-soleil
all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

japanese architect kengo kuma has completed the headquarters of alibaba group, an e-commerce company based in hangzhou, china. ‘taobao city’, a vast complex developed to meet the needs of the growing organization also includes sports facilities, conference rooms and a library. the design is defined by a series of dynamic brise-soleil shading devices, which not only protect the building from the sun, but also provide a rhythmic and engaging exterior.

the complex offers on-site sports facilities, conference rooms and a library

reversing the trend of constructing mulit-storey towers, ‘taobao city’ is relatively low-rise, establishing a clearer and more direct relationship with the natural environment. shallow floor plans provide constant external views of the surrounding green courtyard, while pleated glazed elevations enable ventilation, where 300mm openings draw in fresh air throughout the day.

a bridge linking the site’s various programs encompasses the structure, forming an elevated continuum more than one kilometer in length.

the low-rise design establishes a clear and direct relationship with the natural environment

a bridge linking the site’s various programs encircles the structure

looking up at the building’s pleated elevation

the design incorporates different shading systems

an orange brise soleil adds color to the building’s façade

the pleated glazed elevations ventilate the office space

internal spaces provide views of the adjacent courtyard

the vast site in relation to the street

project info:

location: hangzhou, china
completed: 2013
program: office (canteen, gymnasium, auditorium, exhibition hall)
area: 260,000 sqm (2,798,616 sqf)