renzo piano integrates vertical greenery at JNBY's hangzhou HQ

renzo piano integrates vertical greenery at JNBY’s hangzhou HQ
image © RPBW / rendering by cristiano zaccaria

renzo piano building workshop is currently working on a large scale project in china that will see a barren brown field site transformed into the headquarters of apparel brand JNBY. the plot in the city of hangzhou will form part of a ‘superblock’, a semi-private gated community measuring 250,000 square meters.

the program is arranged around the site’s perimeter, creating a large protected green space
image © RPBW / rendering by cristiano zaccaria

the concept is defined by placing the majority of the program around the site’s perimeter in order to create a large protected green space. this park contains an open plaza, encouraging workers to congregate and spend time outdoors. the structures surrounding the piazza are permeable for pedestrian access, while the lobbies and retail spaces of each building are oriented inwards towards the public square.

offices oriented towards the park feature green planted façades
image © RPBW / rendering by cristiano zaccaria

the program – which includes an art gallery, a variety of event spaces, and designer shops – is organized on a diagonal grid configured to offer optimal circulation across the site. these functions are intentionally positioned to intersect and disrupt the regularity of the commercial office buildings, thus breaking down their visual presence and adding areas of complexity and interest.

vegetation also helps in reducing the visual massing of the buildings
image © RPBW

green planted façades face the centrally positioned park, while other elevations are a combination of fritted glass, aluminum panels and architectural concrete. hangzhou’s subtropical climate is favorable for vertical gardens, while the vegetation also helps in reducing the visual massing of the built form.

furthermore, motorized sunshades provide sufficient shading to allow for large IGU’s composed of low-iron glass with a low-e coating. this combination is ideal for improved thermal performance, optimum control of natural light and excellent color rendition within the internal spaces. plantation is continued across the scheme’s terraces and roofs, with chinese tea species planted throughout. 

the site is configured to offer optimal circulation across the site
image © RPBW

additionally, small modular pavilions are being considered that may be used as greenhouses, exhibition pavilions, or retail outlets. the pop-up units will be designed so they can be conveniently erected or taken apart when appropriate.

a scale prototype of the building’s steel façade
images © RPBW / photos by maxime laurent

initial conceptual sketch by renzo piano
image © RPBW

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project info:

project name: JNBY headquarters
timeline: 2013 – in progress
location: hangzhou, china
client: hui zhan technology (hangzhou) co, ltd
team: renzo piano building workshop in collaboration with greentown orient architects (hangzhou)