Hangzhou Gateway, China

In February 2017, Hangzhou Gateway, a striking new office tower in Hangzhou, China, was completed.

Designed by JDS Architects, the 16-storey building incorporates two massive voids that are cut diagonally through it. The resulting ‘H-shape’ creates a stepped park on top and an arched pathway for pedestrians beneath, linking both sides of the building with a historical market hall, currently undergoing renovation, a public green space.

With a concave plan, the walkway divides the lower floors of the 23,600 sq. m building into two quarter-circle plans.

The main structural supports are provided by two vertical circulation spaces which brace the lower floor plates. These two cores are spanned by the middle floor plates like a simple beam, which creates a stable platform for the upper floors.

On top, the void in the roof creates a green park with a series of stepped terraces, a feature that the architects say is a reference to the ancient Chinese rice-field landscapes. The opening is oriented so as to provide office workers with maximum sunlight and views. The staggered terraces also retain rainwater, which is used to assist with the building’s cooling.

Content and imagery courtesy of JDS Architects.

Photography is by Julien Lanoo.

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