Architects:UNStudio

Area:1810m²

Year:2023

Photographs:Wen Studio

Main Contractor:Symbol 上海信鸿实业（集团）有限公司

Lighting Consultant:Brandston Partnership Inc.

Facade Contractor:Josef Gartner Curtain Wall

Project Team:Ben van Berkel, Hannes Pfau, Garett Hwang with Johnny Chan, Sungmi Hyun, Tony Hu, Joe Mak, Phyllis Cheung, Ana Castaingts Gomez, Kan Tong and Diego Ramirez Leon, Raina Lin, Gary Huang, Guomin Lin

Local Architect Symbol 上海信鸿实业（集团）有限公司:UDG联创设计

Facade Consultant:Inhabit Group

City:Shanghai

Country:China

The Living Forest of Harmony. Inspired by nature and Huawei’s ‘Harmony’ operating system, the geometry of the two-story Huawei Taikoo Li flagship store is based on biophilic forms that seamlessly transition from outside to inside.

Throughout the exterior and interior of the store, high-performance, certified, and recycled materials are adopted to reduce environmental damage and sustain the lifetime of the building, while detachable prefabricated systems are applied on the floors and ceilings. Advanced ventilation systems and real-time monitoring are used throughout the store to ensure high indoor air quality and greenery is added to create a pleasant environment for customers and visitors alike.

Referencing the recursive dynamics of growth within natural structures, the design reflects the algorithm that echoes Huawei's polar codes technology. Across the facade, petal-like features appear at different stages of growth, evolving in scale and rotation, to form an integrated geometric system that combines the brand with nature and technology.

The recursive petal facade. The main facade of the flagship store forms a symbolic gateway to Taikoo Li, Qiantan. Alongside the color and material choices, the unfolding composition creates a distinct identity and welcoming gesture to visitors.

The stems of the petals obscure the structural mullions of the glazing to compose a frameless glass front that maximizes visibility and enables natural light to flood deep inside the store. In the evening, lighting elements embedded into the petal’s edges cast a soft glow across the facade and activate the frontage.

The south-facing facade is composed of an undulating floor-to-ceiling glass surface that blurs the boundary between the store’s interior and the outside public space. Seating elements and greenery placed within the meandering glass shopfront further merge inside and outside.

The interior. A key feature, the spiraling ‘Tree of Harmony’, continues the aesthetic of the exterior facade into the store. Also visible from the outside, this element anchors the main entrance area, serving as a traffic generator from both the interior and the exterior. It further enables vertical circulation by diverting foot traffic to the staircase from the main atrium to the second floor. This tree feature is also designed to facilitate interactive experiences through AR: visitors can have a sensory experience of nature through sight, sound, and smell.

The interior of the store is characterized by fluid circulation and a color palette of warm, pure tones. This palette was deployed to unify the spaces, with ivory ceilings and floors and columns clad in wood and GRC. The product display tables are also made from wood and are accompanied throughout the store by complementary colored furniture.

In addition to the centrally located key product display avenues, two different kinds of experiential zones are fluidly interwoven throughout the two-story store. The ‘Signature Experience’ zones offer featured exhibits and services, while the five ‘Consumer Full Scenario Experience’ zones enable interaction with Huawei’s products – which range from smart watches to smart cars - and encourage people to fully experience how connectivity will seamlessly integrate AI into every aspect of their daily lives.

A multi-functional community space. The new Shanghai flagship store is designed as a flexible, user-centric interface that provides stimulating, multi-faceted experiences to Huawei’s customers. It enables the pioneering tech company to identify and test the current and future needs and habits of its customers and create its own community within the store.

Both floors are punctuated with spaces for gathering, relaxing and sharing. The HUAWEI Community area is open to all visitors and can be configured flexibly depending on events. Here visitors can take part in Huawei’s public lectures, cultural activities and fitness and health classes.

A café is located across from the lecture and event space, where customers can relax while awaiting after-sale services. In addition, an ‘In Real Life’ area serves to provide space for work and leisure activities.

The brand gallery and brand wall by the south entrance provide an interface between the brand and the consumers. Here, Huawei’s evolving history and brand milestones are commemorated and a further break-out space is provided.

Project gallery

Project location

Address:Shanghai, China