Arquitectura e interiorismo: David Chipperfield Architects

Fuente: Europaconcorsi
Fotografía: © Simon Menges

The ten-storey office building is located in a diversely built area on Moganshan Road near Hangzhou’s tranquil Shuyhan Park. Within this dense context the new building asserts its object-like presence with a clear geometric form. The positioning of the slim building in the middle of the site provides spatial distance to the neighbouring buildings. Placed above street level, the volume sits as if on a stage. Together with the modulation of the surrounding exterior space, the raised level allows for diverse transitions from the city into the building. All stone surfaces of the exterior topography are crafted from the same matt grey basalt.

The structure of the building is based on a reinforced concrete frame. The façade is clad with large copper cassettes, reflecting this structure outwards. Smaller sheet copper elements clad the area around the windows. These smaller elements, which are manually pointed using a standing seam technique, display a degree of refinement and accentuate the surfaces within the overall structure. The rectangular columns along the narrow side of the building enhance the slender appearance, and the lively surface of the bronze cladding gives the façade an elegant, vibrant look.

Along the perimeter of the building the structure allows for a column-free floor plan inside. Each standard floor consists of one large space, which is arranged like a ring around the central core, and each floor can be divided into two separate units. The floor plans allow for single, group or open-plan offices and the lighting of the rooms further supports this flexibility of use. Auxiliary functions are located in the central core. The linearity of the space, the generous ceiling heights and the large windows give the building a loft-like character. While the outer walls are plastered white, oak wood is used for the cladding of the core and the flooring.