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China's economic boom has produced some of the world's most impressive and distinctive building projects. The China International Exchange Committee for Tall Buildings (CITAB) and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) now celebrate these monumental achievements, China's most significant built works, through a formal awards program. After four projects were shortlisted earlier this year, the inaugural CITAB-CTBUH China Tall Building Awards has concluded with the winner of the China Best Tall Building Overall Award.
The Awards Symposium was held on May 13 in the 5th floor Garden Ballroom of the Shanghai Tower, the world's second tallest building. After a design and technical jury of architects and engineers considered over 90 entries from around the country, only four received Excellence Awards in February: The Asia Pacific Tower & Jinling Hotel in Nanjing, Bund SOHO in Shanghai, Hongkou SOHO in Shanghai, and Wangjing SOHO in Beijing. They were all then entered into the running for Best Tall Building, an honour that was granted to Bund SOHO.
Designed by gmp Architekten and ECADI, the office complex received praise for its respect for local history, its demonstrated ability to adapt to a challenging site, and its warm palette of colours. With architectural nods to New York City's Rockefeller Center and the neighbouring Art Deco buildings on the Bund, the development is composed of six sculptural structures highlighted by recessed and projected walls. Four highrise buildings ranging from 60 to 135 metres in height contain the office spaces, with two smaller buildings to the west and north housing retail and restaurant outlets. An interconnected system of pathways and squares at ground level provide links to the neighbourhood while offering revealing views of the project's full scale.
The program was based on the CTBUH worldwide tall buildings awards program, which has recognized landmark buildings like Bosco Verticale, One World Trade Center and Turning Torso. The CITAB-CTBUH China Tall Buildings Awards honour projects that have made considerable achievements in the advancement of Chinese tall buildings, the urban environment, and sustainability.
