Giant Interactive Group Corporate Headquarters by Morphosis Architects
The Giant Campus is a compact architectural project that accommodates varied functions in an adaptable framework of forms that move in and out of a folded landscape plane.
Morphosis Architects were commissioned to design the Giant Interactive Group Corporate Headquarters in Shanghai, China. The Giant Campus project is a packed together architectural design, which houses varied programmatic functions. Different architectural forms that seem to flow into one another, and in and out of the surrounding landscape characterize the architecture of the Giant Campus. The project is constructed in the midst of existing canals and a man made lake and is composed of two campus wings – the east wing and the west wing.
The undulating office building and an improved ground surface blur the boundaries between architecture and landscape and the surrounding environment to the site. As the design is free from any one ground level, contending layers of architectural forms unite, fracture up and diffuse as needed. The otherwise clear distinction between a man made structure and the landscape is challenged cleverly and landscape, which is otherwise used as a backdrop for architecture, becomes an active instrument here shaping the architecture of the project.
The west campus of the Giant Campus showcases a green roof that seems to be in motion and climbs up to the edge of the office building. A multi- purpose court, a swimming pool and a fitness centre for the employees are situated under the expansive, undulating landscape, which acts as a roof to these spaces. This roof cover reduces heat gain and cooling costs by providing thermal mass. The landform of the west campus terminates at a company guest hotel. The guest hotel cantilevers over a wildlife pond and has glass – floored private bedrooms.
At the southern edge of the campus, a pedestrian plaza steps down to the edge of the waterfront leading people down to the lake. This encourages social and public activity along the water's edge.
The east campus building, which meanders along the landscape houses three distinct zones: open and non- hierarchical office spaces, private offices and executive suites. The building is clad in charcoal grey panels. In addition to this a library, an auditorium, exhibition space and café are integrated into the design by positioning these spaces under the lifted landscape.
The main circulation space connecting the different buildings, is an enclosed walkway which meanders through the office buildings as an elevated walkway over the street connecting the east and west campuses. Plazas are created out of the landscape and they provide recreational spaces for the employees.
The Giant Campus project has many features that maximize energy efficiency and comfort for the occupants. The landscaped green roof of the West Campus provides thermal mass, which reduces heat gain and reduces cooling expenses. The double skin of the façade, which includes an insulated glass curtain wall, also minimizes solar heat gain. The profile of the building is deliberately kept narrow to ensure continuous access to sunlight. This along with the grid of skylights always guarantees enough daylight in the building and thus cuts down electricity costs.
Project: | Giant Interactive Group Corporate Headquarters |
|---|---|
Architects: | Morphosis Architects |
Location: | Shanghai, China |
Project Year: | 2006- 2010 |
Photographs: | Iwan Baan, Courtesy the architects |
Architects Website: |
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