Shenzhen Energy Mansion is a complex high-rise building comprising office spaces and public functions. The tropical climate of Shenzhen calls for a new approach to designing office buildings by creating comfortable working spaces while reducing energy consumption. The all glass façade typology for the typical office tower is replicated all over the world. However, in tropical conditions the glazed curtain wall facades normally result in high energy consumption for air conditioning and poor views through coated windows.
Shenzhen Energy Mansion is a building based on an efficient and well designed floor plan, enclosed by a skin specifically optimized and modified to reduce solar heat gain. Solid façade elements are oriented to block sunlight from the south east and south west, allowing the glazed façade elements to achieve green building code requirements with less coating. This makes it possible to drastically enhance the sustainable performance of the building, while creating comfortable office workspaces with views unobstructed by glare blinds.
The folded façade creates a rippled skin around the building, creating a classical appearance on two simple volumes. The façade geometry always follows the same angle of 45 degrees, but also allowing for simple deformations in the façade. A series of modifications to the geometry create special spaces for entrances, views and specific programs. At the north and south end of the building the corners are pushed back to form welcoming entrance spaces for the commercial areas, and at the same time pulled out to open up the arcades.

Credits:
- Transsolar
- Front
- ARUP