Recently, the CTBUH 2021 Annual Awards announced the winners of the “Award of Excellence” for each category. We are delighted to announce that the tower building of Gala Avenue Westside in Lujiazui, Shanghai, has received the “Award of Excellence” in the category of “Best Tall Building under 100 Metres”. Benoy has provided designing services including master-planning, architectural design and interior design. CTBUH will hold the 2021 Tall + Urban Innovation Conference online from 18th — 20th May.
Please click https://tallinnovation.com/registration/ and vote for us!
Qin Pang, Director and Head of the Benoy Shanghai Office and chief architect of the project, was honored to receive the award and said: “We were nominated last year. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we were not able to meet with our colleagues in Chicago as originally scheduled. Gala Avenue Westside is a small but complex project. I still remember the hesitations when we began, the repeatedly revised drafts during the design, and the numerous corrections in the construction stage… It took us six years to gradually get the project into shape and it is now being recognised and accepted by more professionals and young people. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project! ”
Gala Avenue Westside
Located in Lujiazui Harbour City at the intersection of Yincheng Road and Jimo Road by the Huangpu River, Gala Avenue Westside is operated by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation and CITIC Group, with a view to redeveloping the site as a landmark urban complex integrating financial services, shopping spaces, an arts centre, luxury residential developments, and public amenities. Since it was the last commercial plot to be developed in this business district, Benoy aims to design Gala Avenue Westside as a totally unique component of the commercial district and a hub connecting various business thoroughfares in the area.
The site was in use as an old shipyard that Shanghai Shipyard Co. Ltd. had been operating since the 19th century. After comprehensive and meticulous redevelopment, the project has quickly come to establish itself among the skyscrapers of Shanghai. With a building height restriction of 150 m, all buildings in the Puxi historical protection area need to make the most out of the height available to them. Gala Avenue Westside uses only two thirds of the restricted height and focuses more on horizontal expansion. The completed project increases the riverside land area by approximately 250,000 m², which will be used for the construction of public walkways. The idea of walking in the city not only encourages people to enjoy the riverside scenery while wandering past or stopping by the criss-crossing buildings, but also makes Gala Avenue Westside one of the most well-known riverside areas with a great view of Shanghai.
The project consists of 12 interconnected 2- to 3‑storey retail buildings as well as a tower office building, providing high-end retail stores, entertainment areas, and public spaces. The 14-storey tower building straddles the centreline symmetrically. The central part is designed as an indoor lobby, which also leaves enough space for conversion for rental purposes.
The grid façade of the tower building is a re-interpretation of the crystal element, which continues Benoy’s vision of elegance and simplicity in terms of design, materials, and colours. The concept of crystals is consistent throughout the design. At sunset, the façade gently refracts the sunlight.
To be different from the traditional image of rectangular retail centres and to convey concepts that are more relevant to current market demands and expectations, the architects explored different layouts to provide diversified products and services, forming an experience-oriented retail environment. People can stroll around the twelve properly sized retail centres, bringing life to the corners of the spaces and opening up more opportunities for future development and use. There is a 100 m strip of green space between the project site and the river. Gala Avenue Westside has enhanced the connecting function of the green space by using green walls, landscape accessories, and roof gardens to invite plants to the building, making the whole building appear more organic and softer.
Benoy was involved in the master planning and provided architectural as well as interior design services. The team was able to fully explore the use of a wide variety of architectural languages ranging from the creation of enticing dimensions in the urban plaza, streets, underground stores, and indoor spaces to spatial openness and integration of building levels and height differences. The resulting design makes various spaces more enjoyable and open, allowing them to interact with the natural surroundings, thereby intriguing people to explore and experience the complex. The generously dimensioned spaces of the plaza weave between the streets. The architectural design takes into account topographical changes and the buildings’ functions and gives them each a sense of identity.
As the centre of the Greater Lujiazui Harbour City, the project connects visitors to the wider neighbouring plots with an array of interconnected buildings and establishes itself as a node on Shanghai’s multidimensional walkable city planning network. The project is inspired by the old shipyard, with the design language intended to create a rich experience. Historical elements and traditional details are combined with modern materials to make for another riverside destination in Shanghai and one of the best in the country.
Project Overview:
Scope of Services: Master Planning, Architecture, Interior Design
Category: Mixed-Use, Commercial, Retail
Client: China State Shipbuilding Corporation & CITIC Limited
Land Area: Approximately 36,000 m²
Size (Gross Floor Area): 140,000 m²
Total Floor Area: Approximately 153,000 m²
Design Team:
Lead Project Designer: Qin Pang
Key Designers: Yu Chong, Tang Wei, Matthew Bibbey, Zeng Zhaohua, etc.
