The completion of this mixed-use development marks another chapter in the tale of Raffles City’s expansion in China.
January 17th, 2013
The second of Spark’s new-build Raffles City projects (after Beijing) has opened its doors in the eastern Chinese port city of Ningbo.
Singapore-headquartered developer CapitaLand took its Raffles City brand to China in 2000, and now has 8 Raffles City locations there (either completed or under development).
Ningbo is home to China’s second-largest port and an increasingly affluent population. Raffles City Ningbo is located in the Jiangbei district, next to Ningbo’s historical downtown area.
It is intended that the 157,800sqm development – which comprises a mall, a Grade A office tower and serviced residences – will act as a catalyst for further development of the Jiangbei area and the creation of a new downtown district.
Sweeping, waving planes of glass in horizontal layers (reminiscent of rock strata) characterise the development.
Explains Spark’s CEO Stephen Pimbley, “This is not just an architectural device to break up the mass of the building facing the residential tower; it has become something of a leitmotif, tying all aspects of the development together.”
He continues, “In the context of the retail podium, for example, this applied ribbon aesthetic enables each part of the structure to fit seamlessly together. This lends the building a feeling of an almost domestic scale, which is so often lacking in the ubiquitous shopping mall box.”
The need for the development to maximise the potential of its prominent ‘gateway’ site as well as provide a quieter domestic environment led the Spark team to develop a ‘fast civic face’ and a ‘slow domestic face’ for the building.
The residential component sits at the corner of a sunken landscaped courtyard, which helps to moderate the scale of the tower. The noise of the city is intercepted by the mass of the retail podium and a calmer atmosphere is established.
Meanwhile, explains Pimbley, “The animated faces of the retail podium and the office building engage directly with the city and link the older part of Ningbo across the river with the developing quarter, anchored by Raffles City.”
The retail podium has been awarded a Green Mark Gold Badge by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority.
Led by Spark, the design team included collaborating local architect Ningbo Architecture Design Institute.
Photos by Fernando Guerra.
Spark
sparkarchitects.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Christopher Elliott Design utilised a vibrant palette and playful feel to transform an ageing heritage building into a youthful environment.
From hospitality stalwarts to the furniture designers you’re probably already familiar with, take a look at our hitlist of people.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Swiss home appliance designer and manufacturer V-ZUG’s first Sydney studio is a unified expression of the brand’s boutique, sustainable and design-led identity.
Continuing our new series on the design enthusiasts who work in all sorts of different roles across the industry, we hear from Innerspace’s Creative Collaborator and State Manager NSW.