From historic village to global business district

The Zhenru Temple district has been an economic hub throughout the history of Shanghai. Also known as Hongqi Village, the area is crossed by canals, which spurred the development of fruit and seafood wholesale markets in the late 1990s. The new Zhenru China Overseas Center is emblematic of the area’s transformation into a contemporary business district. 

Composed of two office towers for China Overseas, the Huanyu Max shopping mall, a theater, and cultural amenities, SOM’s master plan for the development integrates these uses into a network of public spaces and historic canals. With open entries at all corners, this transit-oriented development becomes a gathering space for residents, workers, and visitors.

Creating a distinct architectural identity

A pair of office towers forms a gateway at the southwest corner of the site. The towers connect to multiple retail levels, an underground transit station, and terrace level amenities. The structural design of the towers creates column-free interiors, which can flexibly accommodate a wide range of office layouts. 

The facade design integrates natural ventilation and improves airflow within the workplace. Terraces provide access to outdoor space and bring daylight to the central elevator lobbies. Material choices for the facade and public spaces reinterpret traditional materials and construction techniques with contemporary technology and construction methods.

The towers’ form is driven by both performance and style. The exteriors are minimal and timeless, while the interiors reveal rich materials and fine details. The facade is formed with a series of glass enclosures that overlap along the column grid, creating a vertical sawtooth pattern. Where the facade modules overlap, operable windows bring fresh air into the workplace. A custom bronze-colored ceramic frit pattern creates a dynamic contrast in color and texture. At the towers’ crown, a stepped parapet directs views toward the Bund and Pudong. 

A stepped canopy at ground level shelters an arrival plaza between the towers. This long-span structure creates column-free spaces for retail in the upper levels of the mall. Each tower features a triple-height office lobby facing south toward the outdoor plaza, with terracotta walls that unify the plaza and building interiors. The custom terracotta glaze evokes the roof tiles of nearby Zhenru Temple. Between the tower lobbies, a water feature and series of escalators connect the ground level office plaza to the retail concourse below. 

Spaces for wellness within the workplace

SOM’s design achieves a LEED Gold and China Three Star certification. Design elements that contribute to sustainability include a high-performance building envelope and a resilient open space design. The master plan and workplace design put a special emphasis on ecology, livability, wellness, and cultural heritage. 

At the north side of the site, landscaped plazas cascade down toward an existing canal. With generous shading, landscaping, and permeable paving, the design reduces the heat island effect and mitigates surface runoff. The centerpiece of the landscape is a 500-year-old gingko tree, preserved during construction, which anchors the main public plaza and retail entry. 

Outdoor terraces spiral up the retail podium facade. At the top of the podium, a roof garden connects both towers, offering views of the surrounding park. The roof garden can accommodate a range of activities, from lunch meetings to yoga. The roof garden also has direct access to the upper retail via planted walkways and an escalator to the fifth floor below.

Above the roof garden, recessed outdoor terraces stagger upward. These large outdoor spaces and multilevel balconies are shared amenities for tenants—a “vertical public realm.” Aligned with the internal elevator lobbies and visible from within, the terraces provide visual wayfinding cues for tenants and guests.