Shanghai Junkang Financial Plaza is situated in the Back Beach area along the Huangpu River. This prime location, earmarked for future urban development, faces limited land availability and strict height restrictions. Inspired by the lotus flower—one of China’s ten most famous flowers and symbolizing purity emerging from the mud—the design embodies the philosophy of “emerging unstained and cleansing clear ripples.” Aligned with Shanghai’s blueprint for future growth and its riverside urban renewal, the gently elevated form of Junkang Financial Plaza represents a fresh “opening” for the city: transitioning from bold past urban constructions to an elegant transformation focused on stock renewal and public ecological development.
As the primary waterfront interface in the Houtan area, this project delicately bridges the city with nature through its compact, refined design. Like a sea flower gradually blooming, it aims to become the commercial engine and vibrant heart of the district, welcoming the flow of urban life. It marks not only the entrance to the Pudong skyline but also stands apart from the uniform layout of neighboring buildings with its lively form, approachable scale, and open, relaxed urban garden at the lower level.
The plaza seamlessly integrates with its surroundings, particularly the adjacent green spaces and riverside water bodies. It also serves as the starting point for the Huangpu River’s horizontal skyline, creating a smooth transition from the Xuhui Binjiang Cultural and Art Project to the taller commercial towers. This design reduces urban density above ground and softens the skyline’s rigidness into gentle curves.
Respecting the city’s original texture, the building’s lower levels promote a high-density, small-block urban lifestyle. It integrates fragmented urban transportation and enhances pedestrian accessibility. The design opens a passage toward the northern street, creating a public green space that connects with surrounding buildings and continues the riverside green corridor. Additionally, underground connections link the site with neighboring plots, facilitating shared commercial spaces, transportation, and parking facilities.
A pedestrian entrance along the waterfront allows direct access from the green belt by the river into the building’s interior, radiating foot traffic throughout the business district. This design effectively opens the riverside green space to the surrounding urban fabric, promoting connectivity and accessibility.
The lotus-inspired building opens from a single core into five directions, with layered protruding floor slabs that define a distinctive petal-like silhouette. This design maximizes building efficiency while offering occupants 360° river views. It creates a visual corridor that connects both banks of the Pujiang River, linking the Xuhui Art Settlement with the Pudong Commercial Center.
The design concept is inspired by the phrase, “straight from the center to the outside, not sprawling or branching, fragrant and clear from afar, and tranquil in a pavilion.” The form features five petals blooming upward in layers. Horizontal light champagne-colored aluminum panels provide shading while creating a unified facade tone. They catch sunlight and cast varying shadows throughout the day, enhancing the building’s volume and visual appeal.
The glass curtain wall curves infinitely along the building’s form and is complemented by a shallow office depth, maximizing natural light penetration and offering occupants a comfortable, natural environment. Vertical metal tubes subtly inserted between the horizontal aluminum panels resemble morning dewdrops sparkling on petals, adding a delicate, luminous touch to the facade.
Project Drawings
△ Urban Analysis
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Ninth Floor Plan
△ East Elevation View
△ North Elevation View
△ South Elevation View
△ West Elevation View
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Landscape Design
Area: 105,798 m²
Project Year: 2021
Photographer: Yao Li
Manufacturer: South Glass, imported by Euromonitor from the Netherlands (processed by Hunter Douglas)
Lead Architects: Cheng Taining, Yin Jiandong
Design Team: Wu Nina, Yang Tao, Liu Xianghua, Zhu Wenjing, Yuan Yue, Chen Xin, Wang Zheng, Gu Zhenqiang, Zhou Yi, Zhang Haonan, Fang Yi, Wang Rikan, He Ze
Structural Design Team: Sun Huilang, Feng Ziqiang, Gong Da, Wang Fang, Zhu Bei
Water Supply and Drainage Design Team: Zhao Guoping, Yang Yingchun, Ji Diange, Xu Xiaoxue, Su Qinna
HVAC Design Team: Pan Jun, Du Chengkai, He Peifeng, Yin Changyu, Yao Zhuxian
Electrical Design Team: Li Pengzhan, Zhang Geng, Xu Bingyuan, Tang Lin, Zhang Yan
Client: Shanghai Fengtai Real Estate Co., Ltd
Curtain Wall Design: Foster Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: Kengxiao Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Lighting Design: Shanghai Lushengde Lighting Design Engineering Co., Ltd
Location: Shanghai, China
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