This month, Benoy unveils its design for the Euro America Financial City (EFC) Mall located in Hangzhou, China. Benoy is the Architect and Interior Designer for the retail podium which connects three plots within the Central Business District of the FUTURE SCI-TECH CITY in Hangzhou.
EFC Mall sits at the heart of a large-scale, mixed-use development which combines a LEED Super Level A office building, international 5‑star hotel, large scale brand business center, upscale serviced apartment and modern high-end environmental friendly urban residence, all of which are planned around a central park.
The site is located near the Chuangjing Road Station on the metro line 5 which connects the development to rest of Hangzhou. To the south of the site, the Xixi National Wetland Park Expansion can be found with its expansive network of landscaped canals which flow into the heart of the district.
Benoy drew upon its placemaking expertise to bring together the design of the retail podium spread across three separate plots – 84, 85 and 21. Plots 84 and 85 are given over to four-storey malls while Plots 84 and 21 are both linked to the metro station.
“This is a comprehensive development with many components. Our brief was to ensure the design of the retail podium, effectively the main artery of the scheme, would create a synergy between the exterior and interior elements as well as provide a seamless inter-zonal design language for the development,” explained Craig Menzies, Director of Interior Design at Benoy.
Benoy achieved this brief by interacting with the extensive central park which sits in the middle of the three sites which also features its own existing waterway which flows through the landscape. The exterior façade design emphasises textures and lines from the natural environment. Perforations in the façade provide glimpses to the outdoors.
A highlight for the development is the 200m commercial corridor which encircles the parkland and sits above the linked retail podiums. Three double-height glass pavilions occupy the area and were designed by Benoy as the main feature spaces for tenants within EFC Mall.
Within the interiors of the retail podiums, the design takes on a modern aesthetic with articulated detailing and a rich pallet of luxury materials such as bronze and natural marble stone.
“Bringing the design language from the exterior into the interiors, we focussed on celebrating natural materials and introducing the visual connection to the central park which is so unique to this scheme,” explained Craig.
The podium spaces are defined by large atriums allowing natural light to flow into the interior floors below. On the upper levels, full height glass walls provide further visual connectivity to the landscape spaces.
As a major development set within the Central Business District of Hangzhou, EFC Mall and its wider mixed-use scheme are set to introduce a thriving destination which celebrates the best of Hangzhou’s lush landscape and modern creativity.
Project Details:
Location: Hangzhou, China
Development Plots: 85, 84, 21
Size (GFA): 70,000m2
Client: Zhejiang Jiangong Real Estate Development Group Co., Ltd
Architect — Retail: Benoy
Interior Design — Retail: Benoy
