Headquarters of Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bankdesigned by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (Sum) This recently opened architecture studio in Shenzhen, southeast China, has been defined as a “breathing” building. The new headquarters of the bank is a 158-meter-high, 33-storey tower built in one of the main business districts of the modern Chinese capital and located near a large public park.
The project was commissioned by SOM architectural studio back in 2012. Clients asked the architects to design a building that would feature the bank in the future, while at the same time remembering its history as a rural credit union.
The project is a perfect synthesis between architecture and innovative engineering solutions – A hallmark of all projects designed by him as Studio – In which solutions respecting the principles of sustainability and biodynamics have been carefully adopted to deal with the warm tropical climate typical of the region. The element that characterizes the bank’s new headquarters, which turns it into a true landmark of the neighborhood, is the sloping exterior that encases the building’s facades and plays a dual function: as a large sulley arch that protects the building from strong tropics. The sun but above all, serves as the supporting structure for the tower. The diagrid structure thus becomes an external structure that allows the architects to free the interior spaces from vertical buttresses, ensuring maximum flexibility in terms of the planned organization of work areas. At the base of the tower, the network of inclined beams that make up the sloping structure widens to create entry points into the building and frame the beautiful views of the nearby public park and picturesque Qianhai Bay.
Architects from as The studio designed the interior of the building inspired by the principles of feng shui The three basic elements it contains: Earth, Water and Air. the the earth The reference is evident in the marble cladding of the tower elevator’s core. the air An element, on the other hand, is embodied in the natural ventilation system that ensures fresh air both in public spaces and in office spaces. The building breathes thanks to the two atria that extend over the tower vertically and along its full height. In fact, on each floor, the staff can open or close the circulation ports, allowing fresh air coming from the atrium to circulate in the different environments. finally, water – which in feng shui represents the flow of money, as well as ideas and relationships – was chosen as the main element characterizing the entrance spaces. The lobby is surrounded by a reflecting swimming pool and next to the main entrance has been created an undulating wall of water. Moreover, the translucent walls of the lobby create a 15 meter long “rain curtain“Where water flows on small transparent filaments. Thanks to these solutions, on hot summer days, these water features provide an evaporative cooling effect for the entire building, with significant energy savings. The reference to water is also found in other elements such as lighting fixtures reminiscent of raindrops. The large hanging, as well as in the marble wall cladding, where the smooth finish evokes the effect of water polishing on the stone.
(Agnese Bifulco)
Project name: Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank Headquarters
Client: Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank
Place: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Completed: 2021
size
Project area: 94.049 square meters
Building m: 158 m
Number of floors: 33
Design Team: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill www.som.com
Services: Architecture / MEP / Structural + Civil Engineering
Photography: © Seth Powers Photography