Shanghai Riverside establishes a dynamic new urban quarter, strategically located in the heart of the city. The masterplan draws on the existing urban fabric, while setting the precedent for future development along the Huang Pu River. Its design reinterprets traditional organisational principles of the Bund to create a distinctive presence on the world-famous waterfront and a valuable new destination for residents and visitors to the city.
The project consists of three 15-storey office towers that rise to a height of 80 meters. The conceptual approach was to create a ‘family’ of buildings bound by common design elements, set apart through careful detailing that reveals their individual character. Referring to the Bund, the buildings are structured in three horizontal layers; base (colonnade), body (tower) and capital (terrace), with the façades reflecting the towers’ scale and proportion. The character of every building is expressed in the individually crafted stonework, each with their own identifiable profiles.
The proportions of the expressed structure unify the buildings. The façades are strengthened by the cladding infill that has been influenced by the existing buildings around the Bund. The square grid on the north and south face creates a delicate screen that reduces solar gain. This brings sufficient solidity to the facades, while creating a contemporary aesthetic that blends in with the historic neighbourhood.
