The complex consists of 5 high-rise buildings surrounding a spacious square. There is a 6-level shopping center under the square. The towers are occupied by apartments, offices and a hotel. Their complex shape is a response to local regulations: this configuration allowed for minimal shading of the surrounding areas. The ends of the towers are fully glazed, and the main facades have a supporting structure: the main concrete frame (cell height 1.83 m) is reinforced with diagonals in case of an earthquake, Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province, notorious for seismic activity.
Due to the size of the complex (its total area is 310,000 m2), Stephen Hall made special efforts to give it a “human dimension”. So, shops in a shopping center are facing not only inside the shopping center, but also to the street. But the main element of the plan is the space between the towers, consisting of three terraces with ponds: the Source of the year of the Chinese calendar, the Source of 12 months and the Source of 30 days. They serve to collect rainwater, and through their glass bottom, sunlight enters the shopping center. Three Terraces - a reference to the poem about the three valleys, Du Fu, revered by the Chinese as the main poet of national literature. Du Fu has lived in Chengdu for many years, his house has been preserved here.
In addition, the towers have openings with three pavilions: the History Pavilion, the Local Arts Pavilion, and the Pavilion of Light, designed by Lebbeus Woods: the architect died last fall, so he did not have time to see this building, which became the first in his biography projects remained on paper).
Heating and cooling of the complex is carried out by 468 geothermal wells, and landscaping also lowers the temperature. Highly insulated glazing, energy-efficient engineering systems and local materials used in the construction give hope to the LEED Gold eco-certification.
N. F.
