Evolving with the times, building for tomorrow with Qin Pang

It’s hard to believe I’ve now been with Benoy for nearly 20 years. Arriving at Benoy’s Newark studio back in 2006, I brought with me some early design experience from China, but soon found myself in a very different environment to what I was used to — new project types, new ways of working, and new modes of collaboration. 

The learning curve was steep, but it helped broaden my understanding of design and gradually shaped a fresh way of thinking and evaluation. As one example, I noticed that when I used sketches, models, and case studies to communicate design concepts that were difficult to put into words, I received far more positive feedback and recognition from colleagues and clients than I would have expected. 

This encouraging approach made me realize how right my decision to join Benoy was and reaffirmed my commitment to grow within the company. So when I was invited in early 2008 to return to China to help establish the Shanghai studio, I didn’t hesitate, and felt that a much larger chapter in my career was about to unfold.

Setting up a studio in mainland China was a decisive step for Benoy. The company recognised the vast potential in China’s rapid urbanisation process and the broader opportunities in the Asian market. 

They hoped that with my involvement, we could bring authentic local perspectives into a primarily British design understanding, and gradually build a local team capable of responding swiftly and delivering professional, high-quality design services. 

In doing so, we aimed to share Benoy’s global expertise with the Chinese market in a way that was relevant and locally grounded. At the same time, we viewed Shanghai, the nation’s financial hub, a strategic base from which our design practice could meaningfully contribute to China’s ongoing urban development.

Back then, Benoy had already begun to gain global attention through its landmark projects in the UK, such as Bluewater in Kent and Westfield London, as well as international developments like Elements in Hong Kong. As many Hong Kong developers expanded into the mainland with major projects including Shanghai IAPM Mall, IFC Shanghai, Jing’an Kerry Centre, and Indigo Beijing, our Shanghai team’s involvement in these schemes brought greater visibility and trust in the market. 

Over time, more domestic clients began to approach us — first out of curiosity, and later with growing confidence in our work.

From recognition to expertise:

After gradually earning recognition from both the market and industry, alongside two decades of China’s rapid urbanisation, Benoy Shanghai has, through consistent effort, built deep expertise across a wide range of sectors, including urban design, mixed-use developments, urban regeneration, industrial parks, and corporate headquarters offices.

Our business has continued to expand, and the team has grown from just 5 people to 70 today.

Shaping the future of retail:

During this period of rapid development, we have completed numerous projects, yet some remain especially vivid in our memory, as if they happened only yesterday. 

Shanghai IAPM Mall is one of them. It was among Benoy’s earliest designs in the Chinese market and marked the first project in Shanghai where we provided full-service design — covering planning, architecture, interior design, and signage. 

Upon completion, this project made a strong debut in the market as a benchmark of its building type, setting a precedent that inspired others to adopt similar approaches. This further solidified our leading position in the commercial complex sector.

Defining urban cores:

Another notable project is the masterplan of Qiantan Core Area in Shanghai. When Lujiazui Group invited us to compete with two other leading design firms, they valued our approach to addressing urban challenges through operational logic — using commerce as a connective thread to shape a multidimensional, human-centred public core.

We ultimately won the bid, and our design laid the foundation for what is now the Qiantan core area plan. After 10 years of development, it now stands proudly on the east bank of the Huangpu River — what many call Shanghai’s ​“Qiantan Miracle.”

Reinventing the Joy City series:

The Joy City series is also of great significance to us. As the first of COFCO Group’s second-generation development — marking the company’s inaugural project in which it independently acquired land, defined its positioning, and led its own construction—Hangzhou Joy City represented a true milestone. 

Our design helped bring to life this 400,000-square-metre mixed-use complex that integrates commerce, office, and leisure functions. Since then, through design competitions, we successively won bids and deliver projects for Wuhan Joy City, Suzhou Joy City, and Nanjing Joy City, sharing in the continued success and growth of the Joy City brand.

Partnering with Alibaba — A new mixed-use typology:

Our long-term cooperation with Alibaba Group began with the interior design of its Shanghai Hongqiao headquarters. The success of that project fostered mutual trust, leading to further cooperation on the interior design of Alibaba’s Hangzhou Xi’xi Phase campus.

Later, we were invited to participate in international design competitions for two of Alibaba’s regional headquarters — and won both. One is the Nanjing Alibaba Center in Jianye District, with a total construction area of 850,000 square meters; the other is the Wuhan Alibaba Center, covering 450,000 square meters. The Wuhan development features a 6‑story commercial shopping mall and two towers, with the taller one reaching 280 meters — making it the tallest tower Benoy has designed to date.

In this project, we explored an innovative mixed-use typology that blurs the boundaries between office and retail, uncovering the potential of the spaces that connect them. Its human-scale design, combined with the towers, podium retail, rooftop gardens, and a striking orange silk-ribbon-like staircase, redefines the transitional ​‘grey space’ — the in-between zone connecting the podium roof and the surroundings. This flexible space can be adapted for art exhibitions, event venues, or high-end catering facilities.

A riverside landmark — Shanghai Mangoohub:

Shanghai Mangoohub, located in the Xuhui West Bund Media City, is another landmark along the riverside. Serving as Hunan Satellite TV’s showcase in Shanghai, the project was designed to respond thoughtfully to the overall West Bund masterplan, integrating the urban vertical transportation circulation, landscapes, and public plazas, weaving above- and below-ground spaces into the surrounding urban fabric. 

In doing so, it has contributed to shaping the West Bund into one of Shanghai’s most vibrant commercial destinations.

The West Bund’s growing maturity and long-established cultural atmosphere made it the perfect place for our new Shanghai studio, situated in LUMINA West Bund Center.

This new office itself is a vivid microcosm of urban renewal concepts: it features an open-plan layout, flexible working modes, and is complemented by lush greenery. Through large floor-to-ceiling windows, one can take in the ever-changing urban skyline — a view made more meaningful by knowing that, we have helped shape it. 

That skyline also serves as a quiet reminder: in an era where market demands evolve, design aesthetics shift, and clients grow increasingly discerning — how can we remain true to our original aspirations while continuing to advance with the times? Could challenges also bring opportunities for renewal and learning? 

With nearly 80 years of international expertise, over 20 years of local practice, and a consistent core philosophy — rooted in careful analysis, clear problem identification, value creation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and practical solutions to meet clients’ expectations, we are confident we are well- placed to address some of the biggest challenges facing the cities of today and tomorrow.

After more than 20 years of rapid development, many cities in China have little land available for construction. As a result, the market focus has shifted towards the reuse and revitalisation of existing urban areas—sustainable urban renewal — which has become a central priority of China’s next phase urban construction. This is also an area where we have long invested significant effort and remain deeply committed. 

Over the past decade, Benoy has delivered numerous projects certified by LEED, WELL, and China’s Green Building standards. In our ongoing work — such as the CITIC Pacific Yangpu Riverside Renewal Project, the Ant Group Headquarters Project, and the West Bund Financial City (Blocks E and D) — we continue to refine both active and passive energy-saving strategies. These projects are expected to become important benchmarks of sustainable architecture in the future, aligning closely with China’s national ​“dual carbon” goals.

Looking back on Benoy’s development in China, I believe our success largely stems from the effective integration of global perspective and local insight— and, above all, from being part of this era of China’s rapid economic growth. Within this context, and supported by Benoy’s global studio model — where each studio operates independently yet remains closely connected to ensure the open exchange of ideas — our Shanghai team has continued to deliver outstanding work. These achievements reflect our ability to balance international experience with local understanding, creating urban public spaces that endure and remain relevant over time.

Looking ahead, I believe we will continue to collaborate closely with Benoy studios around the world, leveraging our international network to strengthen connections across regions and cultures. At the same time, we aim to share the design approaches and methodologies that have proven successful in our local Chinese practice to the international stage. No matter how the market evolves, versatility, innovation and sustainability will remain at the heart of Benoy Shanghai’s work.

For further discussion, please contact
Qin.​Pang@​benoy.​com