Foster + Partners has opened a new studio in Hangzhou, a major economic and e-commerce hub where many of the world’s largest technology companies are based.
Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “Hangzhou is a vibrant and innovative city which continues to grow rapidly. We are delighted to be situated at the heart of this pioneering community and look forward to building on our relationships in the region.”
The new studio is located within the Euro America Financial City, which was designed by Foster + Partners and completed in 2018. The EFC is an office-led development in the Central Business District of the Future Science and Technology City. The distinctive twin towers form a new gateway to the district, situated close to the Chuangjing Road Station on the Metro Line 5 connecting the EFC to the rest of Hangzhou.
From the 32nd floor of the UK Centre Tower, Foster + Partners’ employees enjoy views of the mountainous West Lake Cultural Landscape. The studio has been designed to enhance wellbeing, with lush greenery, natural ventilation and a traditional tea table to welcome clients.
The new space incorporates recycled furniture and materials, with a number of second-hand pieces from the Shanghai studio. Following last year’s Urban Visions: Sustainable Communities exhibition at the Xintai Warehouse, many of the exhibition plinths were recycled and turned into side tables and shelving units for the Hangzhou studio. TV screens from the exhibition have also been installed in the meeting rooms. The timber flooring has a FSC100% rating, meaning the material comes from responsibly managed, FSC-certified forests. The studio design helps to promote more sustainable ways of working and a circular economy of repair and reuse.
Foster + Partners has recently completed a number of significant projects in Hangzhou, including the Citic Bank Headquarters, a 100-metre-high tower on a main axis through the new central business district; Apple Westlake, a major new Apple store which combines an understanding of the local context with the philosophy of simplicity, beauty and technical innovation; and Apple MixC, an integral part of China Resources’ mixed-use development and shopping mall.
The Hangzhou studio are currently overseeing the construction of the Euro American Innovation City, a mixed-use development at the heart of the Hangzhou Qianjiang Century City. The site is part of the city’s wider masterplan, increasing the number of cultural, commercial, and residential buildings along a ‘cultural landscaped axis.’ The development comprises two office towers, four residential towers, a public plaza and an IT incubator with a retail mall on the lower levels.
Emily Phang, Senior Partner and Hangzhou Studio Lead, Foster + Partners, added: “Having a team on the ground in Hangzhou allows us to provide our Hangzhou clients with an efficient and personalised service. We are also able to closely monitor the construction of our projects to ensure the highest quality builds are achieved.”
