Loci Studio recently completed the concept for Vanke’s latest commercial project in Beijing China affectionately known to us as ‘No. 09’. Personally we hope they keep the name because the are already too many projects names after various shades of coloured clouds in China!
The idea for the landscape design came from the roof of the buildings. With a simple upward fold, a series of cutouts and a slightly misaligned geometry, the roof forms the focus of the built form.
As such this became the departure point for the landscape design, but where the architects had been reasonably subtle, we decided to ramp up the intensity a little more. This resulted in a series of elements - seats, water features, gravity-defying planters, and, interactive artworks and playspaces - that together form the highlights of a bold and vibrant commercial landscape.
Marc’s article explores the relative newness of the profession of landscape architecture in the Chinese context.
threading the existing site with the potential project is a major focus of our work. for this project the existing fields and fishponds of the site were threaded into the proposed urban fabric of the new city centre being developed… the space created when tension exists always feels a bit better.
Cofco Vanke Shopping Mall, Beijing, PRC. Decathlon, a major sports store company wanted a outdoor VIP zone for their store. We proposed it to be a public space that people can use as a mini sports park incorporating basketball court, pool table, table tennis tables and a decathlon branded climbing wall.
Jin Long River, Dalian, PRC - construction is underway…
And until we see it we never know exactly what we will get, no matter how good our drawings. Note the lovely concrete capping to the gabion and the concrete slab under the deck - Not our details but lovely touches! But the gabions themselves are some of the best we have seen in China and the space itself feels wonderful…
