MMA Projects was commissioned to design the Waterfall Tower, a major building to be constructed in the south of Shanghai.
The inspiration for this project lies in the desire to explore the harmony of volumes, taking its cue from the sinuous flowing of water, given its proximity to the evocative Dishui Lake.
Just as water gushes out suddenly and disruptively, descending with all its force from the mountains, in the same way the overlapping façades of the Waterfall Tower and its play of vertical elements of different thicknesses, recall the same vertical movement.
While the podium, with its different volumes, is reminiscent of the water breaking on the rocks at the base of the river bed.
In Hangzhou Bay, south of Shanghai, lies Lingang New Area, a city with a circular urban development divided into concentric circles, where each area has its own specific function. The Waterfall Tower was designed to be inserted in an area exclusively dedicated to offices and convention centres, called Financial Bay.
The client’s request focused on two main result objectives: to create an iconic and elegant building, characterised by a sober refinement; to design a structure that blends harmoniously into an existing design context, while maintaining an iconic character that allows for a dialogue with the equally important tower designed by studio Libeskind.
The predominant stylistic feature of the tower is the harmonious play of curves, inspired by the surrounding context and influenced by the structure of the building.
The tower consists of 20 floors above ground, with a total height of 100 metres, and a basement level dedicated to parking spaces.
On the ground floor, along with numerous shops and bars, there is also a double-height lobby and a multifunctional space dedicated to conferences and events, while a restaurant with various outdoor spaces overlooks the greenery, integrating with the square below. The remaining floors are used exclusively for offices.
From a volumetric point of view, the podium elements seem to detach themselves from the tower and rotate slightly on themselves, positioning themselves at different levels.
The dynamism of the façade emerges from the varying thicknesses of the vertical elements conceived as applied and overlapping sheets that create opening spaces for the terraces.
The vertical elements, depending on the light, produce different visual effects on the external surface of the building. This is amplified by the presence of customised lighting elements designed to illuminate the façade at night.
For more information visit www.mmaprojects.com.
