Huaqiao Towers

The towers that climb up to 225 m and 152 m high not only create a landmark for the Huaqiao International Business City: they are a multifunctional “hub” for living and working as well. Situated in the city of Kunshan at the junction of Jiangsu province and metropolitan Shanghai, the property marks an important node to the city’s economy and urban life. With respect to urban development, the draft envisages creating a permeable green residential and office space by questioning conventional high-rise typology in response to nature and the lake. The towers’ volumes have been amassed so that the view of the lake is maximized. In the area for the building engineering floors, the individual “blocks” have been respectively twisted by 90 degrees in relation to one another. Publicly accessible terraces and green spaces have been integrated into the resulting rooftops at different heights. The verticality is thus visually accentuated when viewed from outside; intriguing points of view arise which vary sharply depending on the viewer’s location. Though conceived as twin towers, each of them develops its own character due to the difference in height and twisted volumes. Both towers make use of their bases and activate them for their users and visitors via appropriate lobbies, retail and recreational facilities. The office tower rises to 45 storeys with a GFA of 83,800 m², the residential tower is comprised of 35 storeys and an approximate GFA of 75,000 m². The latter is divided into three types of housing: the lower part starts with more compact housing units, the middle zone follows with more spacious apartments, and the uppermost segment ends with exclusive, high-end penthouses. Conceived as an architectural ensemble, the towers are perceivable as a visually striking landmark and form a perfect silhouette for lasting memories.