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In the midst of a directive from the Chinese government that seeks to halt "oversized, xenocentric and weird" architecture, the country's most innovative and striking highrises were celebrated last week in a brand new awards program. The China International Exchange Committee for Tall Buildings (CITAB) and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) announced the winners of the first ever CITAB-CTBUH 2016 China Tall Building Awards. The six-category awards program is supported by the Architectural Society of China and the Architectural Society of China Shanghai.
Largely based on CTBUH's worldwide tall building awards program, the CITAB-CTBUH Awards recognize the project partners involved in creating the most sustainable and inventive new building designs. The 'Best Tall Building China' category acknowledges new construction that has made "extraordinary contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment, and that achieve sustainability at the highest and broadest level."
Four developments received the Excellence Award, the highest honour in the category. The Asia Pacific Tower & Jinling Hotel in Nanjing built upon an existing hotel by adding 370 five-star suites sheltered in a 57-storey, 240-metre tower. Designed by P & T Group, the development was praised for its sense of order and peripheral building placement, which draws visitors inwards. The building's role as a "harmonizing element" in relation to its urban environment was also recognized as an important achievement.
The ECADI-designed Bund SOHO consists of multiple volumes located on a prominent Shanghai riverfront site. Again, the orientation of the office buildings was cited as a key factor in the project's win, as it received acclaim for its easy accessibility and abutting spaces that "encourage exploration."
Also in Shanghai, the curved shading system attached to the Kengo Kuma-designed Hainan Road Lot 10 was commended for its practical and aesthetic benefits. Changing shape as the building rises, the facade provides the functional purpose of resisting solar heat gain — improving energy efficiency in the process — while giving the tower a fluid appearance. A grey water collection system and landscaped green roofs also boost the environmental profile of the development.
Finally, Beijing's Wangjing SOHO office complex by Zaha Hadid Architects — already showered with admiration for its rounded mountaintop form — has now been recognized for its strong emphasis on integrated transportation access. A direct connection to the subway system through the development is complemented by nearby bus stations. Bicycle parking and reserved spots for low-emission cars augments standard vehicular stalls.
The twin towers of the Jiangxi Nanchang Greenland Central Plaza and the concave-walled People's Daily New Headquarters were among nine standout 'Honourable Distinction' projects celebrated for their high-quality designs. The Jing An Kerry Centre office and hotel complex in Shanghai won the China Urban Habitat Award, honouring ambitious master plans and designs that successfully relate to their urban surroundings. The pedestrian-friendly development is informed by its broader social contribution, expressing itself with flexible spaces designed to adapt to local needs over time. Just a short distance away, the Shanghai Tower received a China Innovation Award for its unique suspended curtain wall. The two-enveloped cladding system contains an inner circular floor plate surrounded by a rounded triangular shield that elegantly twists as the building rises. The arrangement optimizes wind performance while providing atrium amenity spaces every dozen floors.
Shenyang's Hang Lung Plaza was presented with a China Construction Award for its unmatched safety conditions and resolution of challenges associated with its inventive structural form. The China Outstanding Achievement Award went to ECADI's Dasui Wang, who has played a leadership role in the fulfillment of several landmark Chinese buildings, including the Shanghai World Financial Center, Oriental Pearl Television Tower and the CCTV Headquarters in Beijing. While most of the buildings recognized were completed recently, the CITAB-CTBUH 2016 Legacy Award celebrates the achievements of developments constructed between 1978 and 2005. Some of the world's most identifiable buildings, including Hong Kong's Bank of China and Two International Finance Centre, were honoured with awards.
The four Excellence Award recipients in the Best Tall Building China category will each be entered into the competition for the Overall 2016 Best Tall Building China Award, which will be given out in May at the China Awards Symposium, Dinner and Ceremony in Shanghai. We'll return with an update when the winner is announced, but until then, you can find information and images on some of the award recipients linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
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