Fuxin Mansion serves as an important link between the formalised character of the Central Bund, the new Pudong area Old Shanghai and the developing South Bund District. In recognition of this, the design gathers the twin towers into a single and unified composition. The focus of this single expression is the intersection of Zhongshan and Fuxin roads which is the most important intersection in the district because it connects the Bund with Old Shanghai and the YuYuan Gardens.
The unified composition provides a greater strength of distant views and creates a dynamic gateway to the South Bund area while allowing the eastern tower to address the Huang Pu River in a formalised and frontal posture, traditional in the historic Central Bund.
Building Site
Site design envisions building masses distributed at the edges which form strong street walls and create a figural central open space which is elevated five metres above the street. This open space, which provides an upper-level entrance to the two office towers and is lined with retail, connects the corner gesture to a sequence of upper-level activity and pedestrian flow which is beginning to characterise the South Bund District.
The developing series of figural public open spaces are connected by pedestrian bridges which eventually connect the District across Zhongshan Road to the Huang Pu River. The Fuxin Mansion design reinforces this sequence of events while maintaining strong connections to the surrounding streets.
Building Elements
The character of the two office towers is intended to embrace the modern roots of this building type. The facades are delineated in sweeping glass curtain walls which are intended to be highly textured within horizontal elements which reinforce the curvature. Each facade is slightly different responding to the variety of internal and external site conditions.
Asian elements are introduced in the abstract to create a legible character rather than a specific identity. Subtle relationships between opposing curves at the top, the balance of horizontal with vertical elements and the sequencing of space and experiences combine to connect this design to its place.
Fuxin Mansion represents 102,000 square metres of mixed-use, office and retail space. The two towers are 165 metres tall consisting of 38 floors. The podium varies in height from five to eight levels and represents 9,500 square metres of office and retail area.