Firm： LAB architecture studio

Type： Commercial › Office Hospitality + Sport › Hotel

YEAR： 2012

SIZE： 100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft

Photos： LAB architecture studio (7), John Gollings Photography (6), Borong Chen (2), Ryuji Miya (2)

This competition-winning design proposal for a new city government office complex in Xitaihu New Town incorporates a 5-star hotel with full conference and meeting capabilities together with a range of restaurant and support facilities.

The dynamic shape of the project provides a unique, sculptural form as one approaches the building. Located on a corner site, the faceted planes of the building shift their formal relationships when seen from different vantage points. The “rock crystal” is purposely asymmetrical in its formal massing, with faceted planes bevelled to differing orientations.

The dramatic form of the building is part of the project’s integrated sustainable design, generated to create a self-shading form which, in conjunction with the horizontal sun shading and variable facade panel system, significantly reduces the facade's peak heat loading, allowing for a significant heat reduction.

The green building approach is enhanced by the use of a displacement air conditioning system, providing air circulation to all office spaces through a raised floor that also allows future flexibility for changes in layout and building cabling. This building is also designed to achieve a 2-star Chinese green star energy rating (equivalent to Australian 5 star).