Heatherwick Studio completes first Phase of Mixed-Use complex "1,000 Trees"
06/01/2022.
[Shanghai] China
metalocus, JAVIER ARIAS
metalocus, JAVIER ARIAS
The first phase of Heatherick Studio's 1,000 Trees project in Shanghai (a plant-covered mixed-use development), described as "Shanghai's Hanging Gardens of Babylon", was recently officially inaugurated in Shanghai, China.
Eight years in the making, the project's first phase opened with a lighting ceremony on December 22. The project features up to 1,000 structural columns each featuring a tree planted on top, more than 70 different tree species, as main feature.
Eight years in the making, the project's first phase opened with a lighting ceremony on December 22. The project features up to 1,000 structural columns each featuring a tree planted on top, more than 70 different tree species, as main feature.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin Szeremeta
Sketch. 1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio.
Details. 1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio.
Construction. 1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio.
Rendering. 1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio.
Model. 1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Qingyan Zhu.
Developer Tian An commissioned British architecture firm Heatherwick Studio a mixed-use development along the 1,100-meter bank of the Suzhou River with an area of approximately 58,930 square meter located 20 minutes from downtown Shanghai next to the district of arts M50.
The plot, bordered by anonymous residential towers and incorporating several historic buildings as focal points, is split in two by a strip of government land and the second phase of the development is currently under construction and is scheduled for opening in two years.
The site's conditions were translated into two distinct structures with office spaces, car parking, shops, a school, hotel rooms and art galleries.
1,000 Trees by Heatherick Studio. Photograph by Justin SzeremetaThe plot, bordered by anonymous residential towers and incorporating several historic buildings as focal points, is split in two by a strip of government land and the second phase of the development is currently under construction and is scheduled for opening in two years.
The site's conditions were translated into two distinct structures with office spaces, car parking, shops, a school, hotel rooms and art galleries.
Project description by Heatherwick Studio
Following the success of the UK Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the studio was invited to create a new multi-use complex next to Shanghai's art district, M50. Bordered on one side by a public park and on the other three sides by concrete towers, the site incorporated several historic buildings and was split between two plots separated by a narrow strip of government land. The studio's aim was to design a building which would relate to the park and arts district and, while meeting the client's requirement for a large and dense development, would have interest at a human scale.
Early studies suggested that a project of this size would require at least 800 structural columns to support it. From this point the studio began to explore how these columns, normally hidden within the structure, could become a prominent feature of the building and articulate its mass more finely. The studio also wanted to integrate planting into the structure as a visual extension of the nearby park.
The idea that developed was to create two tree-covered mountains, using the tops of the columns as large planters for thousands of trees and shrubs. Arranged in an orthogonal grid across the site, the columns emerge from the building to form the mountains, sloping down towards the arts district and the park. A bridge over the government land links the undulating topography and the historic buildings are integrated as focal points within the development, creating an element of contrast and surprise.
More information
Architects
Heatherwick Studio. Local architect.- MLA Architects (HK) Ltd. Project Leader.- Thomas Impiglia, Fergus Comer, Jimmy Hung.
Design team
Christian Álvarez Gómez, Jeremy Backlar, Jordan Bailiff, Einar Blixhavn, Sarah Borowiecka, Mark Burrows, José Cadilhe, Yuxiang Cao, Rodrigo Chain, Linus Cheng, Ruggero Bruno Chialastri, Kacper Chmielewski, Leonardo Colucci, James Darling, Silvia Daurelio, Vincenzo D'Auria, Thomas Glover, Tamsin Green, Hayley Henry, Le Ha Hoang, Sheau-Fei Hoe, Xuanzhi Huang, Hao-Chun Hung, Leung Hung, Jessica In, Linnea Isen, Ben Jacobs, Catherine Jones, Madhav Kidao, Panagiota Kotsovinou, Wendy Lee, Nicolas Leguina, Shan Li, Jeroen Linnebank, Virginia Lopez Frechilla, Débora Mateo, Vichayuth Meenaphant, Dimitrije Miletic, Craig Miller, Sayaka Namba, Philipp Nedomlel, Regina Ng, Claudia Orsetti, Hannah Parker, Monika Patel, Daniel Portilla, Jeff Powers, Matthew Pratt, Enrique Pujana, Thomas Randall-Page, Ryszard Rychlicki, Emmanuelle Siedes Sante, Julian Saul, Osbert So, Skye Sun, Nicholas Szczepaniak, Cliff Tan, Kenneth Tagoe, May Tang, Ezgi Terzioglu, Chris Tsui, Ivan Ucros Polley, Paula Velasco Ureta, Paul Westwood, Simon Winters, Eda Yetis, Kelin Yue, Ezgi Terzioglu.
Collaborators
Structural engineer.- Arup.
Local landscape architect.- Urbis.
Facade consultant.- EFC Engineering Co. Ltd, Wah Heng Glass and Aluminium Products (Shanghai) Ltd.
Lighting consultant.- Speirs and Major Associates, LEOX Design Partnership.
Alan Chandler, Arup, Basilica De La Sagrada Familia, GDC, Inhabit Group, Ingrid Hu, MLA Architects, Mode, Ltd, P&T Architects and Engineers Ltd, UEL, Rider Levett Bucknall, Urbis Limited, Speirs and Major Associates, Van Den Berk, Wah Heng Glass Group, Shanghai Institute of Architectural Design and Research, Wilf Meynell.
Client
Tian An China Investments Company Limited.
Contractors
Main contractor.- Shanghai Construction No. 1 (Group) Co. Ltd
Facade contractor.- Shanghai Liaosheng Curtain Wall Engineering Co. Ltd.
Landscape contractor.- Shanghai Jia Yuan Landscape Engineering Co. Ltd.
Interior contractor.- Shanghai Dong Ni Architectural Decoration Co. Ltd.
Area
Plot.- 58,930 sqm.
GFA.- 300,000sqm.
GFA.- 300,000sqm.
Dates
Commission.- 2011.
First phase completed, opening.- 2019-2021.
First phase completed, opening.- 2019-2021.
Location
No.120, Mo Ganshan Rd, Putuo District, Shanghai, China.
Photography
Justin Szeremeta. Qingyan Zhu.
THOMAS HEATHERWICK
Thomas Heatherwick established in 1994, Heatherwick Studio recognised for its work in architecture, urban infrastructure, sculpture, design and strategic thinking. Today a team of 180, including architects, designers and makers, works from a combined studio and workshop in Kings Cross, London.
At the heart of the studio’s work is a profound commitment to finding innovative design solutions, with a dedication to artistic thinking and the latent potential of materials and craftsmanship. This is achieved through a working methodology of collaborative rational inquiry, undertaken in a spirit of curiosity and experimentation.
In the twenty years of its existence, Heatherwick Studio has worked in many countries, with a wide range of commissioners and in a variety of regulatory environments. Through this experience, the studio has acquired a high level of expertise in the design and realisation of unusual projects, with a particular focus on the large scale.
The studio’s work includes a number of nationally significant projects for the UK, including the award-winning UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, the Olympic Cauldron for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and the New Bus for London.
Thomas is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects; a Senior Research Fellow at the Victoria & Albert Museum; and has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from the Royal College of Art, University of Dundee, University of Brighton, Sheffield Hallam University and University of Manchester.
He has won the Prince Philip Designers Prize, and, in 2004, was the youngest practitioner to be appointed a Royal Designer for Industry. In 2010, Thomas was awarded the RIBA’s Lubetkin Prize and the London Design Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to design.
In 2013 Thomas was awarded a CBE for his services to the design industry.
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