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The idea had emerged to optimize the facade of an existing design for two 80-meter conjoined office towers in Shanghai‘s Xuhui Riverside area. However, upon analysis, the design team recognized that a mere facade enhancement would not fully leverage the site’s potential, given its prime location near the Huangpu River and Runway Park. The concept evolved into a comprehensive redesign, adjusting the towers’ form with a 90-degree twisting and terracing effect and reorganizing the functional layout by elevating the office lobby to the third floor. This shift, built on the original pile foundation, aimed to better integrate the building with its urban and natural surroundings, enhancing both its aesthetic and functional value.
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The project fosters a seamless integration with its surroundings, particularly the Runway Park and Huangpu River waterfront. The twisting, terraced towers create a visual and spatial dialogue with the river and urban skyline, positioning the building as a prominent node in Shanghai‘s fabric. By elevating the office lobby and reducing the ground floor footprint, the design opens the base, connecting it fluidly with the park and adjacent plaza. Open interfaces, traversable passages, and consistent paving blur the boundaries between private and public realms, extending the park’s recreational space into the building. This enhances accessibility, previously limited by utilitarian features, and cultivates a shared urban space that enriches community interaction.
Sustainability is a core focus of the project. The design is redeveloping the existing pile foundation, it caused that efficiently reduced construction waste. The building’s form and orientation optimize natural light and ventilation, reducing energy demands for lighting and cooling. Integration with Runway Park promotes pedestrian access, minimizing vehicular reliance. This building employs prefabricated construction and low-carbon materials which align with sustainable urban principles. The design’s environmental responsiveness positions it as a candidate for future recognition upon completion.
The NetEase Shanghai West Bund Research and Development Center redefines urban architecture through a transformative redesign of an existing office tower scheme in Shanghai’s Xuhui Riverside core. Originally two 80-meter conjoined towers, the project evolved into a dynamic pair of twisting, terraced structures built on the original pile foundation, responding to the Huangpu River and Runway Park context. Its defining characteristic is the fusion of private and public space: the office lobby’s relocation to the third floor liberates the ground level, creating an open, accessible interface with the park and waterfront via consistent materials and traversable passages. This fosters a vibrant public realm with themed plazas and small-scale commercial structures. Key strengths include its innovative form, which offers functional terraces for office workers and striking views, and its urban integration, enhancing connectivity and community engagement. Sustainability is embedded through green terraces and resource-efficient design, aligning with modern ecological standards. By balancing corporate needs with public benefits offering NetEase a distinctive image and the city expanded civic space, the project exemplifies how architectural updates can elevate urban livability, making it a potential landmark in Shanghai’s evolving skyline.
“The redesign has transformed our vision into an inspiring workspace that seamlessly blends with the city and nature. The innovative form and public space integration exceed our expectations, enhancing employee experience and community life. We’re proud of this forward-thinking project.”
Atelier Archmixing is a pioneering Chinese architectural studio established in Shanghai in 2009. With all partners domestically educated and have practiced in China almost three decades, their flexible design strategies come from deep understanding of Chinese contemporary urban and rural context. Through integrating practice with urban research, spatial experiments and theoretical reflection, Archmixing finds innovation from refreshing the program, reorganizing all resources and applying accurate forms and technologies. Their work and research have been exhibited in London, Venice, Boston, Paris, Shenzhen etc., and featured in AD, ARQ, A+U, AJ, T+A, etc. Awards include Best US Brick Building, Asian Architects Association Golden medal etc.
