Elevating Urban Living and Retail Experience in Ningbo
Project: Ningbo Jinmao Plaza
Location: Ningbo, China
Client: Jinmao Group
Design and Project Architect: Aedas
Gross Floor Area: 188,175 sq m
Design Director: Ken Wai, Global Design Principal
Led by Aedas Global Design Principal Ken Wai, Ningbo Jinmao Plaza, strategically situated in the core business district of the Ningbo Life Science City, is a TOD complex that incorporates office, retail and hotel spaces.
Ningbo Jinmao Place is closely linked to transportation and natural resources, with the northern side of the plot overlooks the lake and landscape of the Central Park. The office tower is placed on the east, while the hotel is placed on the northwest to enjoy the landscape scenery. The design draws inspiration from the natural beauty of the mountains in the city, creating a lakeside paradise while thoughtfully organising the visitor flow.
The office façades mimic the movement of a waterfall by creating variation between glass panels with horizontal and tilted vertical fins. The varied colours and heights of the corner glass curtain wall creates a striking visual contrast, evoking the sensation of a waterfall cascading down. To reduce interference, the tower crown features a glass curtain wall that rises above the roof, with the rooftop garden and observation terrace designed as separated areas. The office lobby uses transparent glass curtain wall and textured glass on the canopy to offer an elegant appearance while highlighting the beauty of the building's structure.
The hotel and office towers are connected through a retail podium, forming a semi-open piazza. A corridor is designed on the second floor to link the metro station to the development. The retail podium adopts a stacked design with its southern façade facing the city's main roads, constructed from light silver metal, gleaming aluminium panels and stone, evoking the contours of a mountain range. The podium façades alternate between ceramic panels, metal sheets and glass curtain walls, creating a balance of solidity and transparency that resonates with the surrounding urban and natural environment. The northwest entrance features a glass box with a terrace facing the expansive city views, seamlessly blending with the urban landscape.
The corridor guides the circulation towards the four-season courtyard that features a cylindrical glass space and seamlessly integrates the exterior and interior space. The entrance boasts a four-story high ceiling, with a streamlined design that creates a dynamic and multi-layered space. The design of the courtyard is inspired by valleys in the blossom garden, delivering a sensational four-season experience to the visitors. The façade of the river-facing courtyard features louvered lights that illuminate the white stone, creating a stunning view by the riverside.
‘We hope to create more attractive public spaces for urban residents in new cities and compact commercial layouts, fostering a unique resort-style retail experience,’ says Ken.
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