rogers stirk harbour + partners presents winning qianhai tower in shenzhen

rogers stirk harbour and partners unveils its winning competition entry for the qianhai financial holdings headquarter tower. designed together with aube conception, the design presents a mixed-use commercial workspace high-rise in the center of the qianhai district, shenzhen. the tower will rise 220 meters (722 feet) and will be clad in a metallic bronze finish. the volume is punctuated by triple-height ‘sky lobbies,’ a central atrium, and a skyline pagoda — all supported within four mega columns. the winning entry will introduce a new landmark to the skyline of the chinese city, while creating a new, community-centric public realm.

images by ATCHAIN, courtesy of rogers stirk harbour and partners (RSHP)

the design team at rogers stirk harbour and partners envisions its qianhai financial holdings headquarter tower to interweave nature with workspaces. while the financial holdings company will occupy the top twelve stories as their headquarters, the remaining floors will contain commercial office space. meanwhile, four entrance podium floors will host green wing-tiered balconies that embrace the local linear parkway. at the level of the street, a free-flowing public ground plane will take shape as a new park with underground retail and connections to the metro.

rogers stirk harbour and partners designs three triple-height sky lobbies, or ‘vertical villages,’ to punctuate and contrast the rectilinearity of its qianhai tower. the sky lobbies frame views towards the mountains, qianhai bay, and river. each lobby is expressed with a fluid, sculptural form, and is symbolically finished with a metal associated with finance that responds to the view captured — copper (river), silver (bay), or gold (mountains). the rooftop pagoda will feature a reflective glass structure with a quadrant of giant vanes that will refract the sunlight and project gentle beams of light six floors down through a central atrium. at night, the same vanes will reflect the light emerging from the interior light-well creating a landmark rooftop lantern.