Establishing a new city center

Historically, Hangzhou’s municipal government and cultural core was located northeast of the famous West Lake, in an area that has been continuously inhabited for over two thousand years. In the early aughts, following decades of significant growth south of the Qiantang River, the city developed a master plan for a new city center along the riverfront. 

The Qianjiang New City development relocated the city government to this area, and spurred the creation of a vibrant new district with cultural venues, parks, a Grand Theater, and International Conference Center. GT Land Plaza is a foundational and central project in this plan; its architecture brings together the city’s future-oriented growth, and the most enduring and beloved qualities of old Hangzhou.

Celebrating the West Lake

For centuries, poets and artists have celebrated the natural beauty of the West Lake. Continuing this tradition, SOM conceptualized the north facade of the GT Land Plaza as the glimmering surface of a “vertical lake.” The monumental north facade evokes the sublime experience of the natural lake, and also positions the building as an equal counterpart to the abutting park and civic building. This broad facade is composed of glass panels of varying opacities and hues that reflect sunlight. Many of the large curtain wall panels incorporate a silver mesh between the layers of glass. At night, the facade is illuminated with a series of uplights that create the effect of light scattering across water.

Classical teahouse pavilions reinterpreted

The seventh floor rooftop features the Water Garden, a large outdoor space inspired by Hangzhou’s renowned waterfront pavilions and teahouse culture. A thin layer of water sits on a large glazed skylight, reducing the temperature at the garden, while also allowing dappled sunlight into the retail space below.  

Reimagining the classical pavilions that ring the West Lake, the design team surrounded the pool with pavilions that house a hotel restaurant, a multifunctional ballroom, and an intimate tea house. Each of the pavilions has a distinct facade design. The hotel restaurant is long and low, clad in a series of horizontal wood screens. The ballroom is enclosed in clear glass with a copper mesh inner layer. Bright aluminum panels clad the small tea house, which is lined with warm interior surfaces for a vibrant effect. 

Bringing human-scale qualities to a large-scale building

Turning the corner from the north facade, the building’s many distinct, interlocking components come into view. Beyond creating visual interest, this form expresses the building’s many different uses. The architecture gives shape to each of the different program types, while creating pathways between shared amenities. Both the apartments and the hotel provide easy access to the spa, health club, and pool facilities. 

The office block connects with the business center, conference and event facilities through a shared elevator stop. Retailers share the rooftop Water Garden with the hotel blurring the lines between these spaces. The programmatic diversity and connective pathways manifest, within a single building, the human-scale qualities of a mixed-use urban neighborhood.