In 2019, Foster + Partners’ Shanghai team moved into a new office tower in the Bund Finance Center, a major mixed-use development close to the Huangpu River, designed jointly by Foster + Partners and Heatherwick Studio. The international team has grown from 20 to 34 over the past four years and includes a mix of architects, interior designers, urban designers and BIM coordinators, who provide an integrated service. The team works closely with colleagues in the London and Hangzhou studios, across a range of projects in China.
The Shanghai studio is located on level 31 of the S2 Tower, with spectacular views of the historic Bund and the river. Working in the BFC also enables the team to showcase the practice’s work to clients who are visiting the studio. The bright, open plan space facilitates close collaboration between members of the team, with designated areas for socialising and relaxation. Over time, the studio has built up its own materials library which allows the team to review and select the best materials for their projects in-house.
Emily Phang, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, said: “It is a really interesting time to be working on the ground in Shanghai. We are noticing a shift towards projects which are about conserving historic elements of the city and celebrating its rich heritage. This way of working aligns with the practice’s sustainable ethos. By retaining and adapting what we already have, we can enhance performance and functionality, while reducing embodied carbon content.”
In January, the practice completed the Suhe Centre, a new office tower in the newly regenerated Suhewan area of Shanghai. The 200-metre signature tower for China Resources Land forms the centrepiece of the Suhewan East Urban Complex, which aims to introduce a richer mix of functions to the predominantly residential area of the city. The development is part of the city’s 2020 vision of drawing development towards the eastern quarter of Shanghai.
In addition to the Bund Finance Center (BFC), completed projects in the city include Shanghai Riverside, a new urban quarter in the heart of the city that draws on the existing urban fabric; Hongqiao Vantone SunnyWorld Centre, a sustainable masterplan for a prominent site at the heart of the Shanghai Hongqiao CBD; and Shanghai Jiushi Corporation, a 40-storey tower that overlooks the Huangpu River.
The Shanghai office is currently working on a number of projects, including the Shanghai Huaxing New Town Development in the Suzhou Creek CBD, featuring a 320-metre office and hotel tower; Nanjing Tie Bei, a mixed-use development located in the centre of Nanjing’s Xuanwu District; the new Shanghai offices for Alibaba – the world’s largest online retailer and e-commerce company; and the Euro American Innovation City (EIC), a mixed-use development that is located at the heart of the Qianjiang Century City Central Business District in Hangzhou.
