POD's New Paradigm for Future-Oriented Large-Scale Mixed-Use Developments

Leveraging its expertise in Japan's TOD development, cultivated through urban regeneration projects such as Tokyo Midtown Roppongi and the Tokyo Station Marunouchi/Yaesu districts, Nikken Sekkei created the vibrant, innovative Shanghai Xuhui Vanke Center Phase III urban complex.

By incorporating an 800-meter-long pedestrian-only street, five 1,000-square-meter plazas, and 70,000 square meters of lush green space covering approximately 15% of the entire block, the project yields a low-carbon, human-scale streetscape, and an urban space where visitors can enjoy a variety of experiences in the city. This project advocates “POD (park-oriented development),” a new concept and an evolutionary step beyond conventional TOD (transit-oriented development). This “TOD x PARK” fusion concept integrates three elements: “Green Living - living spaces in harmony with nature,” “Green Space – ecosystem-considerate green space design,” and “Green Mobility - environmentally conscious transportation systems.”

Furthermore, based on the three major design themes of "people/nature networks", "nature blended commercial spaces" and "nature integrated architecture", the project is aimed at becoming the standard for next-generation urban development in order to realize an “ecological city” where urban functions and the natural environment are organically integrated.

POD “Network”: Reconstructing Transportation Networks with Ecosystem Considerations

Green elements extend vertically from underground to above-ground commercial spaces and high-rise office towers, yielding a “3D eco-urban space” where nature and urban functions seamlessly merge. The TOD urban vitality axis connects the park that runs through the site as a green corridor with the concourse of the station on the No. 15 subway line, and is designed as a stepped sunken garden leading from the ground level to the station. This multi-layered greenery converts the difference in elevations into a natural walking path, smoothly guiding the flow of people from underground to the various functional areas above ground. It also integrates with the park through the “landscape recreation axis” and “business exchange axis,” creating a three-dimensional green network that connects underground, above-ground, and aerial spaces.　

POD “Commercial Innovation”: A Next-Generation Consumption Space Integrated with Nature

With the green axis park at its core, the “concentrated mall” and “open commercial district” are organically arranged, with various large and small box-shaped commercial facilities scattered throughout the street network. This groundbreaking spatial composition, where “nature envelops commerce,” revolutionizes the conventional concept of shopping malls. It encompasses a wide range of business formats tailored to diverse lifestyles, including sports, nature, and art. By decentralizing spaces such as station plazas, parks, streets, terraces, and sky gardens, more engaging experiences and vibrant social venues for people are created. In this TOD-centered urban vitality area, the underground commercial space has been designed as a distinctive stepped sunken garden. It successfully expands commercial value into the underground public space, enhancing both the added commercial value and the spatial atmosphere.

POD “Architecture”: A Symbiosis of 3D Ecosystems and Humanistic Spaces

The design motif draws inspiration from natural landscape forms such as valleys, streams, and plains. Through a three-dimensional spatial composition integrating architectural scenery and landscape design, a multi-layered environmental symbiosis is achieved. The office building complex explores the ideal form of a next-generation CBD (commercial business district) grounded in the principles of diversity and scalability for future workplaces. The symbolic twin towers are positioned facing Shanghai South Railway Station. Along Humin Road, the main access artery to the station, a stepped profile rises higher in the west and lower in the east. This creates a natural skyline that harmonizes with the south station area. The high-rise office towers emphasize the creation of warm, human-scale spaces including the introduction of vertical greening and the design of shared spaces. This provides a more flexible, thoughtful, and green eco-friendly office experience for the workers of the future.

Shanghai Xuhui Vanke Center Phase III is driven by the goal of meeting people’s needs and creating new experiential values. It transcends conventional development frameworks and pursues the creation of unique spaces that combine natural landscapes with culture and art. The aim is to create a new landmark “POD” space where citizens can gather, interact, and engage in activities.

Project name: Shanghai Xuhui Vanke Center Phase Ⅲ
Purpose: Offices, commercial facilities, parks
Location: Shanghai, China
Site area: Approx. 68,000 sqm
Total floor area: Approx. 500,000 sqm
Number of floorsà 32 above-ground floors
Eave height/max height: 150.00 m
Main structure: Reinforced concrete structure, steel frame construction
Completion: December 2023

Client name: Vanke
Lead architect: NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD
Main scope: Masterplan, Architectural concept design, Facade Basic Design, On-site Construction Coordination
JV:
Landscape: Tianhua Landscape Design, Atelier Scale Landscape Design Co., Ltd.
Interior Design: Pinhole Co., Ltd. (commercial), Hassell Ltd.（offices）
Lighting Design: Bpi Co., Ltd.
Construction Drawings: China Architecture Design & Research Group Shanghai Co., Ltd.

Construction Contractor: Shanghai Construction No.5 (Group) Co., Ltd.
Photo credit: mintwow （yangmin/mintwow）