Foster + Partners wins the competition the new Xicen Science & Technology Centre

Architecture practice Foster + Partners has won the competition to design the Xicen Science and Technology Center, in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta region, the axis of development between Shanghai and Huzhou. Through a mixed-use program that mixes spaces for living, working, and visiting, in addition to the Xicen Science and Technology Center, taking as an example the historic aquatic cities of the region, and seeking to create a low-impact riverside community by integrating the new waterways and the pre-existing ones.

The project offers a variety of outdoor public spaces and makes the most of the river, with pontoons, floating tea houses and paddling areas. It also explores the use of micro-mobility vehicles, such as water taxis and electric scooters, which would enable sustainable travel across the development.

Rendering. Xicen Science & Technology Centre by Foster + Partners.

Foster + Partners project program features a cultural center, a learning center, a theater, and an exhibition space, as well as offices, and commercial and residential areas. Running through the center of the development from north to south, a water street lined with cafes, shops, and restaurants that enliven the urban environment, directs people towards the cultural center and its adjacent green plaza.

The cultural center is the centerpiece of the project. Its wide roof acts as a garden bridge, literally and symbolically enhancing connections throughout the development. The east wing of the building contains three levels of theater space, while the west wing contains two levels of the learning center and an exhibition space above. The shaded garden bridge crosses the new water street and offers spectacular views of the wider development.

Rendering. Xicen Science & Technology Centre by Foster + Partners.

“We are delighted to have won the competition to design the Xicen Science and Technology Center. Water and vegetation are the cornerstones of this mixed-use development, which learns from China's historic water cities. The human-scale project establishes connections with the natural world, maximizing views towards Beihenggang Lake, while carefully linking the site's waterways and new pedestrian routes.”

Gerard Evenden, director of Foster + Partners.

Vegetation and water will cover 35% of the residential areas of the plan. Generous green terraces provide private outdoor spaces for residents and provide a variety of ecological benefits. The offices are adjacent to the residential areas, sharing their amenities and public spaces. The lakefront office development is designed to attract large organizations due to its prime location and large surfaces.

The project conserves existing wetlands and incorporates sponge city strategies to retain rainwater. Water and vegetation are also used to cool the development during the warmer summer months. The development aims to achieve a 2-star “China Green Building” rating, while the cultural center aims for a 3-star rating. The project will be evaluated according to China's eco-district standard.

The project program proposed by Foster + Partners has a cultural center, a learning center, a theater and an exhibition space, offices, commercial and residential areas. Crossing the center of the complex from north to south, an aquatic street is created full of cafes, shops and restaurants that enliven its urban condition, facilitating access to the cultural center and its adjacent green plaza. The cultural center is the centerpiece of the project. Its wide deck acts as a garden bridge, literally and symbolically improving connections throughout the development. The east wing of the building contains three levels of theater space, while the west wing contains two levels of the learning center and an exhibition space above. The shaded garden bridge crosses the new water street and offers spectacular views of the wider development.

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More information

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Architects

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Foster + Partners.

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Dates

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Competition.- March 2024.

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Location

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Shanghai, China.

Norman Foster

Norman Robert Foster (Reddish, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, 1 June 1935) is a British architect, founder of Foster + Partners, and one of the leading figures in contemporary architecture. His career is closely associated with the development of high-tech architecture, structural innovation, and the integration of environmental considerations into buildings and infrastructure.

He studied architecture and urban planning at the University of Manchester, graduating in 1961. He subsequently received a Henry Fellowship to continue his education at Yale University in the United States, where he earned a master's degree in architecture and met Richard Rogers. In 1963, he co-founded Team 4 with Rogers, Su Rogers, Georgie Wolton, and Wendy Cheesman. Following the group's dissolution, he established Foster Associates in London in 1967 with Wendy Cheesman. The practice was later renamed Foster + Partners and is now headquartered in London, with offices worldwide.

His early work explored technological innovation, prefabrication, and spatial flexibility, influenced in part by his collaboration with Richard Buckminster Fuller. Notable early projects include the Willis Faber & Dumas headquarters in Ipswich (1975) and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich (1978). His international reputation grew with the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation headquarters in Hong Kong (1985), Stansted Airport in London (1991), and the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (1997).

His career encompasses architecture, urban planning, and infrastructure projects across numerous countries. Among his best-known works are the reconstruction of the Reichstag in Berlin (1999), the Great Court of the British Museum (2000), the Millennium Bridge (2000), and London City Hall (2002). Other major projects include the Bilbao Metro, Canary Wharf Underground Station, 30 St Mary Axe in London (2004), the Millau Viaduct in France (2004), the Hearst Tower in New York (2006), Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport (2008), Apple Park in Cupertino (2017), and Bloomberg's European headquarters in London (2017).

Alongside his architectural practice, Foster has pursued research and educational initiatives focused on the future of cities. In 1999, he established the Norman Foster Foundation, whose headquarters opened in Madrid in 2017. The foundation promotes interdisciplinary research in architecture, urbanism, technology, and infrastructure, preserves his professional archive, and develops international educational programmes. In 2024, the Norman Foster Institute began its academic activities, focusing on the study of sustainable cities.

His numerous honours include the Royal Gold Medal from the Royal Institute of British Architects (1983), the Gold Medal from the American Institute of Architects (1994), the Pritzker Architecture Prize (1999), the Praemium Imperiale for Architecture (2002), and the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts (2009). He was knighted in 1990 and appointed a life peer in 1999, taking the title Lord Foster of Thames Bank.

Published on: March 12, 2024

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metalocus, ANTONIO CORREDERA

"Foster + Partners wins the competition the new Xicen Science & Technology Centre" METALOCUS. Accessed

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