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The Chinese city of Suzhou, located in southeastern Jiangsu Province, is often overshadowed on the skyscraper front by neighbouring Shanghai, the largest city in the country. But recent growth has prompted developers and architects to take a closer look at the city's potential. A network of canals, stone bridges, pagodas, and landscaped gardens have spawned Suzhou's 'Venice of the East' moniker, informing the city's identity as a tourist and cultural hub.
Between 2010 and 2015, Suzhou experienced a 6.3% annual jump in population, an astounding rate of growth higher than any other city of over five million people. In 1990, its urban area was home to just over one million individuals. Today, the number of people calling Suzhou home has more than quadrupled. With a growing population comes increased demand for living space, 21st century offices, and hotel rooms to maintain a strong tourism industry. A colossal skyscraper by Wharf Holdings has all of this in spades, as the under-construction Suzhou IFS embodies the city's standing as a top Chinese destination.
Soaring 98 storeys and 452 metres, the landmark commercial development overlooks Jinji Lake in Suzhou's new central business district. With a gross floor area of 278,000 square metres, the tower contains a surplus of office space, a 129-room premium hotel, and over 800 residences. The supertall building is positioned beside a 170,000-square-metre mall known as Times Square. An upcoming 35,000-square-metre shopping complex will abut the other side of the development. A direct link to a future metro station is planned to serve the building's residents and tenants.
Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the tower's curved curtain wall facade — intended to reduce solar loading — is punctuated by a vertical opening on one side that connects to a teardrop-shaped rooftop. The sloping form of the upper floors is replicated at the base, where the podium roofline gently curls like an olympic ski jump to maximize the views from the serviced apartments within. This architectural anatomy is similar to that of a fish, recalling the importance of Suzhou's waterways to the city's economic prosperity. An LED system will be programmed to twinkle against the night sky at specific intervals.
The tower's glossy facade has already made a big impact on its more muted surroundings. Recent photos from Gaoloumi user Yangcheng Wang show the high-quality glazing and the building's impressive height as it approaches its distinctive crown. Construction is expected to be completed in 2017, when it will become Suzhou's latest tallest building, dethroning the 302-metre Gate to the East.
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