Architect：Saltans Architects

Location：Wuhan, Hubei, China; | ;View Map

Project Year：2014

Category：Shopping Centres;Apartments

Provided with a client's pre-defined commercial podium and residential tower floor plan, the project entails the exterior facade design for a 31 story, 100 meter residential tower set above an eighteen meter high commercial block. As a unique programming feature, the primary focus of the commercial structure is the fine jewelry trade, while the residential units are designed to specifically attract young, first time buyers.

Since the prescribed floor plan would yield an essentially flat facade, with no distinct geometric changes in massing, the facade design provides depth and identity through subtle manipulation of pattern, material, color and shadow. The residential tower is subdivided visually with a larger pattern occurring every six floors which is then further sub-divided into an alternating horizontal pattern every other floor. Color is introduced in specific locations through vertical bands which extend the entire height of the tower, visually linking the patterns grouped over the six floor increments. Continuous vertical fins are strategically positioned to conceal exterior A/C units.

The east facade, which faces the major circulation road, also contains the main entrance into the commercial podium structure. A uniquely shaped top terminates this elevation, reinforcing this main elevation and providing a visual identity from a distance. The podium structure abstracts the visual qualities of precious jewelry through a subtle faceting of a diaphanous metal screen wall. Set away from the main building facade, the geometric pattern recalls the facets of precious stones and creates unique patterns and textures onto the adjoining surfaces. At night, this semi-transparent scrim glows via back lighting to create an enlivened facade enticing the passerby. As a backdrop to the metal screen wall, an alternating pattern of deep set vertical windows unifies all four sides of the commercial podium.

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