Phoenix Mall, Kunshan

Located in Kunshan; a city of deep cultural traditions, this project aims to create a landmark in harmony with its surrounding context, inviting people to interact with culture in a retail context.

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This project is intended to enrich people’s lifestyle throw a diversity of cultural activities which will be performed in contemporary spaces.

 

The design concept is based on an experimental work setting up a new vision of the book as an abstract object in its everyday use. For this purpose design concept was orientated first to notions related to the concept of MEDIA, which are intrinsic to it and referring to; communication, flow, and diffusion.

 

Movement is the relevant catalyst turning on this object into a generator of shapes and sculpting the different volumes of the project. From The podium masses which are stepping gradually, to the tower slipping volumes; the curved force lines of the project—expressing the flow of the media—wraps around the project in a unique gesture shaping it in its strong unity.

 

Its dynamic design incorporating a fusion of horizontal lines sometimes changing their direction and moving from one floor to another, these lines seems to be revived by the curved volumes hosting cultural activities and springing from the corner like a fountain. Its eye-catching forms are accentuated by the bold contrast of materials.

 

The volumes are fusing by the flow, but set apart at the same time, these volumes adapt to each other following the general movement, generating an elegant architecture minimizing the corners and rejecting transitions that break the fluidity of its composition.

 

These meandering curves create ever-changing architectural perspectives from different points of views. The movement is also highlighted by the use of a parametric flow of openings moving gradually from the roof toward the west facade, strengthening the unity of the project, reinforcing its lines and providing day/night dramatic performance.

 

The facades design for the retail mall takes its inspiration from horizontal and vertical thin side of book pages.

 

The intention was to broke away from the conventional opaque box of retail design and use layered vertical blades with various degrees of opacities to allow visual interaction between the interior and exterior.

 

Aiming to create a vibrant urban centre, the design strives to provide a maximum time cycle of activities.

 

The program shows potentials for a program mixing office, retail, culture, dining and entertainment functions.

 

With almost 94,000 square meters program, this 24-storey retail building is designed with a podium which will house five commercial floors which are set above two car park basements. The building is carefully planned to provide a good accessibility; an impressive circulation axis connects the west main entrance to the opposite east one which besides the tower lobby entrance.

 

This axis passes through a main courtyard materialized by a void linking the upper four floors and bringing daylight via a geometrical glass roof. Another minor axis is drawn perpendicular to the first one and links two entrance inviting people from another two parallel roads