Sustainable design, sustainability, Ben Van Berkel, UNStudio, China, Raffles City, Hangzhou, Shanghai, LEED gold, mixed-use

Ben Van Berkel of UNStudio stated that the philosophy behind the Raffles City, located near the Qiantang River in Hangzhou 180 kilometres southwest of Shanghai, is to integrate mixed-use in an urban context, but in a such way as to give this concept a twist by focusing on where the urban context meets the landscape of the city. The project incorporates retail, offices, housing and hotel facilities and marks the site of a cultural landscape within the Quianjiang New Town Area. Raffles City Hangzhou is designed to reach a height of 60 stories, presenting views both to and from the Qiantang River and West Lake areas, with a total floor area of almost 400,000 square meters.

In author’s own words, in the design of the towers the urban element of the project twists towards the landscape, whilst the landscape aspect, in turn, twists towards the urban context, thereby effecting the incorporation and consolidation of these separate elements in one formal gesture.

As the inclusive approach to sustainability is an important part of UNStudio’s design philosophy, in the Raffles City project they seek to receive the LEED gold certificate. Therefore the incorporation of natural ventilation principles and innovative and sustainable ways in which the materials are employed all work in synergy with one another, in order to low the energy consumption and material demands of the building. Additionally, urban sustainability is also very important consideration in the design. The development is hybrid, regarding the program mix and it creates dynamic, continuous 24/7 cycle of activity, a hub for business conduct, a new destination for visitors and residents alike and will become an all-in-one destination for working, living, leisure and entertainment.

Sustainable design, sustainability, Ben Van Berkel, UNStudio, China, Raffles City, Hangzhou, Shanghai, LEED gold, mixed-use

Sustainable design, sustainability, Ben Van Berkel, UNStudio, China, Raffles City, Hangzhou, Shanghai, LEED gold, mixed-use

Sustainable design, sustainability, Ben Van Berkel, UNStudio, China, Raffles City, Hangzhou, Shanghai, LEED gold, mixed-use

Sustainable design, sustainability, Ben Van Berkel, UNStudio, China, Raffles City, Hangzhou, Shanghai, LEED gold, mixed-use

Sustainable design, sustainability, Ben Van Berkel, UNStudio, China, Raffles City, Hangzhou, Shanghai, LEED gold, mixed-use

Sustainable design, sustainability, Ben Van Berkel, UNStudio, China, Raffles City, Hangzhou, Shanghai, LEED gold, mixed-use

Sustainable design, sustainability, Ben Van Berkel, UNStudio, China, Raffles City, Hangzhou, Shanghai, LEED gold, mixed-use

 

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