MAD Architecture Firm has unveiled its renovation design plan for the new Shanghai “Ark” project.
The design aims to create a layered experience of time and space by juxtaposing old and new structures. The renovated building, resembling a rising ark, injects fresh vitality into the aging industrial site.
The “Ark” renovation targets the “Ten Thousand Meter Warehouse” situated on the south side of Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Cement Plant. Post-renovation, this space will transform into a multifunctional public waterfront area, combining cultural, creative, dining, commercial, and shared office spaces.
The Shanghai Zhangjiang Cement Plant, located in Zhangjiang City’s sub-center, was once one of Shanghai’s three major cement plants. Established in 1971, it witnessed nearly 50 years of urban growth before ceasing operations in 2013. Recently, the site has undergone redevelopment, bringing together pioneering architects locally and internationally to collaboratively design the park.
Through adaptive reuse, historic industrial buildings like the “Ten Thousand Meter Warehouse,” “Cement Silo,” and “Kiln Tail Tower” have been preserved. The site now supports research and development, cultural and sports services, and creative commercial facilities, evolving into a mixed-use industrial park that celebrates industrial symbiosis, architectural diversity, and cultural sharing.
The Wanmi Warehouse, located on the north bank of the Chuanyang River, was historically the arrival point for ships delivering raw materials to the cement plant. It remains the largest existing building on the site. Its riverside facade, stretching over ten thousand meters, holds deep urban memories for generations of Shanghai residents.
Though it no longer serves industrial functions, the Wanmi Warehouse stands as a vital urban node, connecting the Chuanyang River with the Zhangjiang sub-center and facing the iconic Zhangjiang “Gate of Science” Twin Towers across the water.
Preserving industrial heritage is not only about honoring historical memory but also about providing the future with a sense of history. As Ma Yansong states, “We do not seek to glorify industrial aesthetics here, but rather to focus on the spirit of the present and the future.”
The design retains the original industrial character of the Wanmi Warehouse. The old roof has been removed and replaced with a metal “floating” structure resembling a futuristic ark. The rough concrete texture contrasts with the smooth metal surface, creating a dynamic tension between different eras that revitalizes the aging factory building.
The new office space is elevated like an ark, serving as a new roof, while the original industrial space has been preserved and transformed into a multifunctional urban living room. After careful restoration and reinforcement, the weathered facade of the original building has become an integral part of the site’s new identity.
The west wall facing the Zhangjiang sub-center has been replaced with a fully suspended glass curtain wall, positioned slightly behind the original wall. This creates a 24-hour open urban public space on the exterior.
Inside the transparent glass curtain wall, the bright and spacious factory area remains unobstructed. Utilizing the narrow, tall volume of the warehouse, the design creates an immersive indoor environment.
Visitors entering this space are greeted by a massive ark slowly unfolding above. A metal hanging ladder leads directly to the roof, inviting exploration of the future and the unknown. Below the ark, the mottled walls of the old factory and terraced gardens coexist, hosting creative, cultural, and dining activities that foster a vibrant community activating the urban space.
The glass curtain wall creates a clear separation between the old factory walls and the floating ark above. Light filters through the gaps, illuminating the garden and reflecting off the slightly reflective stainless steel ceiling, filling the space with natural light and greenery.
The sunlight shifts throughout the day, subtly reminding visitors of the passage of time and the history embedded in every brick.
To enhance the connection with the riverbank landscape, the first floor of the old factory’s riverside facade has been opened and integrated with the waterfront square.
A corridor runs through the building’s center, linking the park square with the riverbank. A newly designed bridge spans the Chuanyang River, providing convenient access for the local community to enjoy this innovative public space.
The roof has been designed as an open urban public space, inviting visitors to enjoy panoramic views of the Chuanyang River. The ark’s eaves tilt downward, visually reducing the building’s height impact on the riverbank while optimizing the rooftop landscape.
The ark’s floating effect is achieved through structural elements such as columns, floor trusses, cross-story trusses, and large-span beams. The old walls have been reinforced and restored using wall studs, steel wire mesh, and buttresses to preserve their historical character as much as possible.
The renovation of the Ten Thousand Meter Warehouse at Shanghai Zhangjiang Cement Plant is projected for completion in 2026.
△ Original building
△ Original building
△ Original building
Project Drawings
△ Axonometric diagram
△ Structural schematic diagram
△ Structural analysis diagram
△ Functional zoning
△ Traffic analysis
△ General layout plan
△ First floor plan
△ Fourth floor plan
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Type: Preservation and Renovation of Multifunctional Buildings
Base Area: 6,742 m²
Building Area: 15,312 m²
Building Height: 24 meters
Lead Partners: Ma Yansong, Party Masses, Yokosuke Hayano
Vice Chief Partner: Fu Changrui
Design Team: Zheng Chengwen, Zhang Tong, Zhou Rui, Shiko Foo
Owner: Shanghai Quancheng Development and Construction Co., Ltd.
Class A Design Institute: Tongji University Architectural Design and Research Institute (Group) Co., Ltd.
Structural Consultant: Hezuo Structural Architecture Research Institute
Curtain Wall Consultant: CIMA Shanghai Xima Engineering Consultant Co., Ltd.
Interior Consultant: MAD Architecture Firm
Lighting Consultant: TS Shanghai Ruosi Lighting Design Co., Ltd.
Landscape Consultant: DLC Demao Landscape Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
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