For the first time after the advent of industrialization, it seems that the carbon content in the atmosphere has truly stirred up human kind and the Hongqiao Low Carbon Business Center is a result of this turbulence. The first of its kind, the Business Center is still in its initial stages. It is a miracle of architecture that would be an attention grabber for the rest of the industrialized nations, once it reaches completion.
A team, together with architects, energy and facility planners, specialists for building technologies, traffic planners and landscape architects as well as the urban planning institute is working towards its completion. The whole concept is based on a second concept of sustainable design elements, comprising of urban planning and design, traffic planning, building technologies and energy production. Already analyzed and discussed in the initial stages of planning, these primary design elements have laid grounds for a master plan, wherein, the team evaluated and integrated all of them.
The Business Center would stretch across an area of 1.4 sq km². It would mainly be utilized for business, hotels, offices and exhibitions, although public spaces would occupy separate quarters. This would be realized by careful compaction of building sites so that small quarters can be spared out from the actual planned business area. This feature would clearly demarcate the Hongqiao, since there is no existent Business Center today that supports public spaces.
Another advantage that supports the creation of such a landmark is the location chosen for the construction. It is close to the Shanghai City Center and is well connected to the new East Coast HUB. Along with access to technology for compact and concentrated sites for building area, the place also provides ample open spaces that are absolutely necessary for energy balance.
Well, this is all regarding the Hongqiao Business Center which is still a plan, waiting to be realised. The team has done a diligent and well scrutinized planning and now the outcome depends on the care taken in the execution of this plan. That is definitely not a matter of doubt, since Shanghai has made its mark as the City of Wellbeing and Luxury. Let’s hope that this project proves to be an equivalent success. Once complete, it will make eyes pop out in admiration.
Source: SBA Design
