C·PARK Haisu is envisioned as a cultural destination to catalyze a vibrant new neighborhood adjacent to the Liu Haisu Art Museum in Shanghai’s Changning District, and strengthen the evolving art scene of the district, the city and beyond. This 110,000-square-meter mixed-use development is an urban oasis where people, art, nature, community, and space are highly integrated.
Challenge: Bridging Art and Urban Life Through Dialogue
The project is situated in close proximity to the renowned Liu Haisu Art Museum, making it essential for the developer and design team to carefully balance two distinct business functions in terms of both positioning and architectural style. The site is further constrained by the presence of an elevated highway and light rail, as well as its close proximity to residential areas and schools. As such, the design must adhere to regulations regarding sunlight exposure and light pollution control, aiming to minimize any adverse impact on the surrounding community while ensuring harmonious integration with the neighborhood. A key objective is also to strengthen connections between the site, the transit, and nearby green spaces.
Planning: Floating Courtyards Creating Vibrant Commercial Spaces
Gensler crafted a permeable space that breathes diversity, vibrancy, art, and nature into the community fabric. The design maximizes the site frontage by “lifting up” the volume to create a central floating courtyard for hosting unique retail experience, creating urban passage, and optimizing natural light exposure. The two elevated towers free up the ground plane to accommodate a lineup of retail pods – a design strategy that enlivens the streetscape. The landmark is anchored by a central sunken plaza, which draws in pedestrians with galleries, boutique stores, and event spaces for leisure and entertainment.
Architecture: Crafting a Unique Urban Identity

The design of the Liu Haisu Art Museum was inspired by the artist’s landscape painting, and to make C·PARK Haisu fitting harmoniously into the site with the existing museum, Gensler's design subtracted the geometry of the building, the fractal geometry blends the group of buildings as a strong symbol of coherent design.
Environmentally Friendly Facade Design: Bringing Positive Impact to the Community

The façade design thoughtfully takes into account the surrounding residential neighborhoods and schools. By incorporating slanted facades and an eco-friendly terracotta sun-shading system, the design reduces the window-to-wall ratio, minimizing light reflection onto nearby buildings and communities. This approach also effectively controls the amount of light and heat entering the building. Additionally, LED screens of varying sizes are integrated into the inward-sloping curtain wall, serving as dynamic backdrops for events and playing a key role in activating the retail atmosphere.
Sustainability: Creating Healthy and Sustainable Workspaces to Enhance Wellbeing

Gensler incorporated globally leading workplace design trends to enhance natural light, views, and spatial experience through a transparent glass curtain wall and a ceiling height of 4.3 meters. The operable glass façade allows for natural ventilation, creating an environment that blends nature with technology to foster productivity and creativity. The curtain wall system features Low-E double-glazed glass, effectively reducing solar radiation in summer and heat loss in winter. Dynamic air quality monitoring ensures a green and healthy indoor environment, while ample electric vehicle charging facilities encourage eco-friendly commuting. The project has achieved both Three-Star Green Building and LEED Gold certifications.
From Art to Ecology: Shaping a New Urban Living Experience

In collaboration with leading art operators, the plaza introduces the concept of "Urban Rewilding" to China—a sustainable business model emphasizing nature, art, community, and pet-friendliness. This model fosters symbiosis between urban spaces and natural landscapes, cultivating a lifestyle where art, nature, and retail coexist. Through a series of events, including performances, exhibitions, markets, and showcases, C·PARK Haisu builds a park-like commercial district that continuously nurtures this lifestyle.
C·PARK Haisu reinvigorates the vitality of the neighborhood with a content-oriented, community-centric approach. The community-centered design, in harmony with the Liu Haisu Art Museum, redefines the “third space,” offering spatial possibilities for innovative retail operations. Active public space nodes connect with the urban fabric, supporting diverse scenarios for work, interaction, experiences, and leisure. This dynamic environment attracts people who seek modern urban lifestyles, inspiring creativity and reimagining daily life.
The multi-level pedestrian system seamlessly connects C·PARK Haisu, Tianshan Park, the subway, and Haisu Green Land, creating a new development model that harmonizes the old and the new, merges life with space, fosters a dialogue between art and the neighborhood, and integrates community with retail. This approach revitalizes the area, enhancing its urban vitality and offering the right mix for a variety of communities.

C·Park Haisu epitomizes pioneering innovation in development, seamlessly merging meticulous planning, visionary design, and content-driven operations to create a vibrant mixed-use environment that harmoniously integrates art, nature, culture, and retail. With a multifaceted approach to operations, the project is eco-friendliness, caters to pet owners with comprehensive pet management, healthcare, and food services, and fosters a culture-friendly atmosphere with immersive experiences that complement the nearby Liu Haisu Art Museum.
Through thoughtful integration with its environments, C·Park Haisu cultivates an ecosystem that fosters artistic expression and nurtures the cultural tapestry of the community. It is a celebration of local identity, curating an experiential destination tailored to the sensibilities of the young generation and Gen Z consumers. Filled with energy while embracing personal and brand statements, the inclusive community hub caters to a diverse spectrum of user groups, fostering an environment of belonging and self-expression.

The project’s achievement also ties together with the financial success, the major tenants, including Lining, Dentsu, IAG art cinema and more have brought solid success to the client. Since its official opening in September 2023, C·PARK Haisu has hosted 35 fashion and lifestyle events, attracting a total of one million visitors and successfully converting foot traffic into consumer spending.
Project Highlights

• 51,300 square meters of office space
• 43,000 square meters of green space
• 6,000 square meters of cultural and art spaces
• 8,000 square meters of sunken plaza
• 100% leased office and retail spaces
• One-third reduction in expected payback period