When Raffles City was completed in the second half of , it undoubtedly marked an important moment for UNStudio. And they entered the large market with a bang. The 2 towers rise to meters in height, gently weave, twist and turn to form a dynamic ensemble while incorporating a large-scale mall at its base. Nowadays perhaps more famous by being the home of technology juggernaut Alibaba than the more idyllic west lake, Hangzhou is rapidly developing with new areas, districts and financial centers.
Raffles City is a key point in one of those new districts. Located along the river, Qianjiang New Area is aiming high.
Skyscraper after skyscraper rising out of the ground, the one bolder than the other. We started our visit to Hangzhou on an excruciatingly hot Saturday from the eastern high-speed railway station. The fluid shapes made it stand out from the more conventional shapes very easily. Rising vertical meter, the twin towers of UNStudio were our guide while shifting through the more and more decreasing traffic.
Qianjiang New Area was only established a decade ago with construction still in full swing. With large office towers, a wide range of hotels and more than enough commercial space, the new area caters more for a weekday crowd since there is rather an absence of residential buildings. Hence the decreasing traffic when we got closer. We could observe the towers and its context from a distance, confirming our opinion that UNStudio was clearly not trying to blend in.
The dynamic lines definitely stand in stark contrast with the surrounding high-rise. Located on a square plot, the towers are placed diagonally to create a maximum of distance between the towers ensuring optimal views. In between the towers, at the base, the designers pressed a large-scale mall rising 6 levels. Gentle curves twist and turn to turn a horizontal plane into a three-dimensional volume guiding your eye lines from ground level to the top.
