What defines a city interface? Is it merely an expression or an attitude? What kind of relationship connects people, residential communities, and the city itself? These questions guide Hangzhou Zhen’ao Institute’s approach to architecture, viewing their project as a unique corner on the urban map. They engage in shaping and nurturing the growth of the area through a design that is simple, refined, and avant-garde.
01. Construction Site and Urban Layout
The 01 and 02 plots of Zhenaoyuan are situated within the Olympic Sports Expo City area on the south bank of the Qiantang River in Hangzhou. Facing Qianjiang New City across the water, the site features a wedge-shaped base surrounded primarily by planned construction land. To the west lie the subway control center and bus station, with Metro Line 6 running between the two plots.
Given this unique geographical setting and its historical significance, the challenge is to seamlessly integrate into the Olympic sports district while embodying the spirit of the Olympic movement.
△ Location analysis chart
Within the plot, high-rise residential buildings are oriented north-south, while commercial and office structures adopt a more flexible frontage. The design maximizes the buildings’ east-west width to incorporate natural features such as the Qiantang River, the Grand Canal, and the Olympic Sports Center’s iconic “Lotus Bowl” into the physical environment, creating “private collections” that blend with user activities and perceptions.
All residential buildings face the city road laterally, offering varying transparency levels from different viewpoints. This enriches the urban interface through dynamic building facades, enhancing the overall quality of the region with superior construction standards.
△ Residential clusters within the city
Hangzhou Zhenaoyuan is a transit-oriented development (TOD) designed as an urban park. It features seamless integration between the underground space of the main residential area and the Olympic Sports Center Station of Metro Lines 6 and 7, allowing direct access to the residential lobby.
The independent commercial podium in the northeast corner connects underground to a 100,000-square-meter urban complex north of the road. A sunken plaza activates this space, encouraging commercial activity and spatial openness. This creates a three-dimensional, integrated community that binds stations, the city, and its people together.
02. Interior Construction and Urban Resources
The overall design embraces an enclosed layout to form a central courtyard and multiple cluster courtyards. A rooftop sky garden along the Olympic Sports Park complements a double-layered sky garden on the refuge level, offering expansive views of the Qianjiang River.
△ General layout plan
A sunken landscape courtyard is positioned centrally, integrating the main entrance and underground garage into a three-dimensional green space. A central water feature softens the symmetry’s heaviness and helps moderate the local microclimate.
This spatial arrangement amplifies views of the city, river, and gardens, balancing the stability of the community space with the vibrancy of the urban interface.
03. Architectural Expression and Urban Interface
Zhenaoyuan distinguishes itself from surrounding residential buildings through its futuristic linear features, reflecting both its unique location and Hangzhou’s identity as a smart, technologically advanced city.
The buildings employ a continuous curtain wall system with hidden glass railings, while soft metal lines define delicate block edges extending to the roof, creating an innovative asymmetrical facade. The overall effect resembles a micro-framed digital screen, echoing the architectural language of the Olympic district.
The extensive use of low-E glass flooring ensures transparency, with “embedded” floating panels visible through the floor-to-ceiling glass, enhancing the sense of lightness. Corner balconies and finely detailed gray aluminum panels contrast sharp lines with smooth curves, creating an engaging tension that aligns with contemporary technological aesthetics.
This approach results in a distinctive facade system, setting the project apart from other similar developments.
04. Connectivity, Interaction, and Urban Content
The combined construction area of Zhenaoyuan’s 01/02 plots is approximately 630,000 square meters. Although the plots are physically separated, they are interconnected through a thoughtful spatial sequence and landscape design, featuring a tree-lined pathway that creates a welcoming route home.
This design strengthens the connection and interaction between the two plots, realizing an integrated community plan that enhances the quality of life from both residents’ and citizens’ perspectives.
In the era surrounding the Asian Games, Hangzhou Zhen’ao Institute’s design has evolved into a three-dimensional, avant-garde, diverse, and pioneering residential concept that reflects its location, culture, and future vision. While the architecture boldly expresses the city’s ambition, it also quietly integrates into urban life.
Project Information
Project Name: Hangzhou Zhen’ao Institute Phase II
Location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province
Address: Intersection of Benjing Avenue and Feihong Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Project Type: Residential & Serviced Apartments
Design Date: October 2016
Construction Date: June 2022
Total Construction Area: 405,000 square meters
Design Firm: Gad Jiedi Design
Project Director: Zhang Wei
Project Creators: Zhang Wei, Huang Huan, Jin Tong, Kang Jian
Team Members
Architecture: Zhang Wei, Huang Huan, Jin Tong, Kang Jian, Liu Jian, Zhou Honglin, Chen Shu, Zhu Ying, Wang Weidong, Zhang Yongxu, Mao Liling, Zhou Binhui, Tang Yan, Sun Qixin
Structure: Yao Kaiming, Hu Di, Li Xiaoling, Zhang Ganglei, Zhu Wei
Water Supply & Drainage: Hu Ting, Chen Feiyan, Shao Maoqing, Qian Zijun
HVAC: Tang Yonghui, Pan Yougui
Electrical: Liu Chuanpu, Ren Feiyu, Sun Shurong, Wang Yang
Additional Contributors
Interior Design: Danjian International
Landscape Design: AECOM
Owners: Xinda, Rongchuang, Binjiang
Photography: Shiromio Studio, Sun Boxiang
Structural Technique: Shear Wall
Building Materials: Aluminum Panels, Glass, Stone
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