Not every super high-rise landmark prioritizes efficiency above all else. Fuda New City reflects Guilin’s unique character, embracing a comfortable lifestyle as it shapes the future of urban development.
01 City Personality
Just as individuals have distinct personalities,
cities also possess their own unique traits.
By understanding the urban character,
we establish the overall tone for the project,
avoiding the creation of uniform, generic cities.
Guilin emerged along the Li River, where flowing waters and mountainous landscapes create a natural backdrop. Its renowned scenery and rich cultural atmosphere make it a popular tourist destination. Unlike bustling, fast-paced cities, Guilin offers a more relaxed urban life, allowing residents to enjoy the beauty of changing seasons. To preserve its natural resources, the city limits the number of high-rise buildings in its main urban area. The Lingui New District, where this project is situated, is Guilin’s future urban sub-center. It will serve as a comprehensive urban hub and act as the focal point for Guilin’s westward expansion, extending its influence to surrounding regions.
Lingui District lies west of Guilin’s main urban center, boasting both dynamic future development potential and abundant natural landscapes.
02 Attitude towards the Venue
Public buildings significantly influence their surrounding environment,
while site conditions also shape the design of these structures.
By understanding the urban character,
we consider the attitude of the site and its surroundings,
which directly impacts the design outcome.
Located in a key cultural and residential area of Lingui New District, the project blends urban convenience with a beautiful natural setting. The site’s southeast corner borders the “One Courtyard and Two Pavilions” complex—comprising the Guilin Grand Theater, Guilin Museum, and Guangxi Guilin Library—and an open central park, making it an important cultural and recreational space for residents. To the east, it faces the Financial Tower, Jinmao Center, and Wuyue Square. To the west, the new International Convention and Exhibition Center is under construction, alongside emerging commercial facilities. Nearby residential communities support local commerce, while the area’s cultural and commercial atmosphere fosters a livable and business-friendly environment. The site benefits from excellent transportation links, with easy access to various highways, and Guilin’s characteristic cloud tracks run nearby.
△ Site analysis showing the distribution of residential, commercial, cultural buildings, and urban parks.
△ Site transportation layout illustrating main and secondary roads, highways, and cloud tracks.
Designing public buildings requires not only attention to internal circulation but also responsiveness to the city’s needs. Fuda New City, positioned at the cultural and commercial heart of the district, addressed the urban context with distinct approaches in its first and second phases.
△ Distinct image positioning for Phase I and Phase II
△ Overall project plan
In Phase I, landmark buildings feature super high-rise towers designed to enhance site recognition and improve the city skyline. Phase II focuses on creating a diverse, open, and inclusive space with varied commercial formats. It introduces apartments and office spaces to differentiate from neighboring businesses, while placing greater emphasis on visual appeal and pedestrian engagement through architectural form.
△ Business layout analysis
Phase I’s traffic flow design strategically utilizes the spatial arrangement of different business types and the intersection’s traffic conditions to ensure safe and comfortable pedestrian movement while maintaining efficient vehicle circulation.
Not every super high-rise landmark prioritizes efficiency above all else. In Guilin, a city defined by its mountains and waters, Fuda New City embodies not only modern convenience and efficiency but also a relaxed and leisurely lifestyle.
03 Architectural Expression
Expression
Rooted in personality,
Conveying attitude,
Architecture communicates emotions and meaning through space,
Establishing an emotional connection with users.
Mass
The buildings in both phases enclose a central “negative building” space, forming a serene urban ecological park. This park creates softened boundaries between different building blocks, enhancing spatial connectivity. As an extension of the surrounding natural green spaces, it enriches the commercial landscape and improves the interior views for hotels and apartments.
① Define the basic volumes
② Elevate tower blocks and some podiums to enrich the facade design
③ Add vertical stone decorative facades to visually accentuate tower height
④ Enhance landscaping and create elevated green platforms
The ecological park’s eastern side connects to the public activity space known as the “Eye of the City.” The open architectural design forms a landscaped plaza that integrates with the low-rise commercial area, creating a relaxed, shared space that combines natural charm with vibrant commercial life.
Interface
The super high-rise tower features a classic three-part facade, blending harmoniously with the surrounding architectural environment despite its prominent height. The facade’s layered setbacks correspond to functional zones, enhancing usability while adding architectural hierarchy and depth to the building.
△ Analysis of the super high-rise tower facade
The Phase I tower and Phase II buildings vary in height, creating a dynamic and rich city skyline. The curtain wall design emphasizes vertical lines, which visually enhance the tower’s stature.
Highlight
The hotel banquet hall, perched atop the podium, resembles a suspended treasure box. Its digitally designed exterior with flowing, undulating lines adds a distinctive personality to the project. Seen from the nearby urban cloud track, the banquet hall’s curved facade creates a captivating visual landmark, offering a unique perspective to passing passengers and enriching the urban landscape.
04 Comfortable Landmarks
What makes landmark buildings truly stand out is not just their impressive height or distinctive shape, but also their ability to reflect local identity and showcase the unique character of their place. In Guilin, rapid urbanization has not compromised the city’s original comfortable lifestyle. Fuda New City integrates seamlessly into its site, expressing the city’s personality in diverse ways. It elevates the development of the new urban area while preserving Guilin’s relaxed and leisurely way of life.
Project Information
Project Name: Guilin Fuda Headquarters Base
Location: Guilin, Guangxi
Owner: Fuda Group
Project Type: Office, Hotel, Commercial Complex
Design Firm: Theo Modo Architects
Building Area: 104,000 square meters
Design Director: Ji Wenjie
Design Team: Li Yi, Zhou Sheng, Cai Haotian, Feng Yuanyuan, Ye Xin
Collaborating Institute: Shenzhen Design and Research Institute
Design Start Date: March 1, 2020
Construction Start Date: August 18, 2020
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up