The Vanke Center, which will house the hotel, conference center, residential apartments, offices and headquarters of China Vanke Co., Ltd, will be built on the shores of the South China Sea, near Hong Kong. Hall decided not to divide the volume of the building into separate parts that perform different functions, but, on the contrary, to create a general large-scale plan entitled "Floating Skyscraper". This, according to the architect, should create a more coherent impression of the future complex due to the fact that "form" will be less dependent on "function". This will also affect the decision of the space around the new building. Under the main volume raised on high supports, a shady recreational zone is formed, which is especially important in a tropical climate. It will become a place of recreation and communication for the townspeople, thereby connecting the "Vanke Center" with the nearby city quarters. There will also be reservoirs that will create a comfortable microclimate in the shade of the building. The fact that the "skyscraper" is raised above the ground will allow winds from the sea and from the land to blow it from all directions, thereby cooling it and reducing air conditioning costs. Hall also planned extensive use of solar energy and other types of renewable energy sources. The glazed facades will be protected by specially formulated solar screens that will also save them from stormy winds.
Construction of the building, which bears a resemblance to El Lissitzky's Horizontal Skyscrapers, is due to begin in April 2007.
