Breathing Building by SOM, Shenzhen
Breathing Building by SOM, Shenzhen
Breathing Building by SOM, Shenzhen
Shenzhen – Designed by American architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the headquarters for the Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank heralds new possibilities for the future of urban green spaces.
Described as a ‘breathing building’, the 33-storey skyscraper employs a variety of design tactics to respond to the local climate. Situated at the edge of a public park in the tropical region of Shenzhen, the building uses a series of biophilic and sustainable interventions to ensure that the structure is protected from sunlight glare and adequately ventilated. The tower’s façade is encased in an external diagrid that reduces solar gain by about 34% and allows for a completely column-free floor plan that enables maximum workspace versatility. Elsewhere, in the lobby, a 15-metre tall ‘rain curtain’ provides a dynamic visual experience that also has a cooling effect on a hot summer day.
Although the building is 33 storeys high, the diagrid design allows it to be ventilated naturally without over-relying on unsustainable alternatives. Re-imagining the structural possibilities of high-rise buildings, this project aligns itself with the sustainability goals of Equilibrium Cities.
Strategic opportunity
To appeal to employees who have grown accustomed to working from home, companies must consider offering benefits that tap into the natural world
