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Yet another supertall, two in fact, are set to rise in the Pearl River Delta. London-based PLP Architecture has unveiled a dramatic master plan that calls for an assortment of office, hotel, retail, and cultural uses arranged within several structures, including a 124-storey tower. The development, named Nexus, is the latest megaproject to be proposed for the region.
The existing building typology on the site is characterized by a three-legged commercial complex, one of the first buildings in China to be developed not by the government itself, but by private interests. The new scheme for the site builds upon this existing structure with a modern re-creation of the three-winged plan. The main 595-metre tower is comprised of three components: a 44-storey block pointed towards the nearby park, an 83-storey portion oriented to the central business district, and the final 124-floor volume faces the hills beyond. Forming a propeller-like configuration, the blocks are arranged around a central axis. Resembling a series of doors being swung open to the city, the tower is about twice as high as most new proposals in the region, although it falls just short of the elusive megatall mark.
Lying adjacent to an opera house and major parkland, the plan institutes an open concept vision for the site. The building will primarily serve offices, but an eight-storey retail podium and 14 levels of hotel rooms at the top ensure a healthy mix of uses. Shuttle elevators at the intersection of the three wings transport passengers on a predetermined schedule, with two intermediate stops coinciding at the rooftop levels of the two shortest blocks. Additional dedicated elevators located at the outer perimeter of each block provide uninterrupted vertical circulation and views of the city. The central and perimeter cores are supported by large horizontal bars, or trusses, that help resist lateral wind and seismic loading.
The result of the three-pronged approach is a systematic filtering of people through the building. The interchange levels perform the task of civic amenities, providing dynamic places for people to mingle and exchange ideas. In effect, these interchange levels mimic the energetic urban ambiance taking place outside at ground level. These multilayered aerial amenities could provide a glimpse into what the future might hold. On the exterior, an innovative sawtooth facade — potentially coated with a dark grey anodized aluminum — orients views outwards.
In between the supertall building and a shorter 347-metre office tower — which similarly implements interlocking volumes — the Platform for Contemporary Arts will rest. The multipurpose building will host a 1,700-seat theatre, music hall, and performance space. The building is raised off the ground, creating an opening below that invites the public in. A cascading waterfall will flow from this cantilevered platform. Known as The Concourse, bridges hugging the platform will contain retail and entertainment spaces.
In essence, the building's form and public contribution at ground level act as a civic gesture towards the city, rather than a solely private monolithic entity. As the 30-year-old preexisting building was in some ways a symbol of China's promise going forward, this complex represents an identical notion. Nexus is an ambitious plan that reinvents the typical skyscraper's internal structure by shifting the core and elevators to one side, allowing light to travel the length of the block. This unorthodox way of organizing the innards of a building could inspire other architects and builders to think beyond the conventional norms of rectangular skyscraper floor plans.
PLP Architecture has various projects ongoing in China. They've designed major developments like Foshan Suning Plaza, in addition to other towers in their hometown like 22 Bishopsgate. Though the planning approval environment in China differs from western nations, the planners remain actively engaged in discussions about the value, purchase, and sale of the land.
We'll stay on top of this project as more details are released. Until then, check out the Database file below for more images and information. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
