Architecture

Stunning pleated facades define BIG Shenzhen towers

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The Shenzhen Energy Mansion consists of two towers, one rising to 120 m (393ft)-tall and the other reaching 220 m (721 ft)
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion consists of two towers, one rising to 120 m (393ft)-tall and the other reaching 220 m (721 ft)
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion was designed by BIG but also involved Transsolar and Arup
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion was commissioned following an architecture competition in 2009 and construction began in 2012
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion's remarkable shape lends it a different appearance, depending on where in the city one is viewing it from
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion comprises a combined floorspace of 96,000 sq m (around a million sq ft)
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion's upper areas are reserved for state-owned firm Shenzhen Energy Company, while lower areas are made up of office space to rent
Chao Zhang
"Shenzhen Energy Mansion is our first realized example of 'engineering without engines' – the idea that we can engineer the dependence on machinery out of our buildings and let architecture fulfill the performance," says BIG founder Bjarke Ingels
Chao Zhang
"Shenzhen Energy Mansion appears as a subtle mutation of the classic skyscraper and exploits the building's interface with the external elements: sun, daylight, humidity and wind to create maximum comfort and quality inside. A natural evolution that looks different because it performs differently," adds BIG founder Bjarke Ingels
Chao Zhang
According to BIG, even when the sun is shining directly onto the building from the east or west, most of its rays are reflected off the glass, thus preventing it from unduly heating up the interior and reducing energy requirements 
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion comprises a combined floorspace of 96,000 sq m (around a million sq ft)
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion's two towers are joined together with a 34 m (111 ft)-tall podium that houses lobbies, a conference center, cafeteria, and an exhibition space
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion's upper areas are reserved for state-owned firm Shenzhen Energy Company, while lower areas are made up of office space to rent
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion consists of two towers, one rising to 120 m (393ft)-tall and the other reaching 220 m (721 ft)
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion, which also involved Transsolar and Arup, was commissioned following an architecture competition in 2009 and construction began in 2012
Chao Zhang
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion's unusual design lends it a different appearance, depending on where one views it from
Laurian Ghinitoiu
The Shenzhen Energy Mansion's protruded areas host meeting rooms, executive clubs, and staff facilities with fantastic views of the city
Laurian Ghinitoiu
View gallery - 16 images

Though some firms would be content to design a typical rectangular tower and call it a day, that's really not BIG's style, and the firm once again offers a unique twist on skyscraper design with its Shenzhen Energy Mansion. The recently-completed project consists of two towers that reduce solar glare and energy requirements with their undulating form and stunning pleated facades.

The Shenzhen Energy Mansion, which also involved Transsolar and Arup, was commissioned following an architecture competition in 2009, and its construction began in 2012. Its two towers rise to 120 m (393ft)-tall and 220 m (721 ft), respectively. They are joined together by a 34 m (111 ft)-tall podium that contains lobbies, a conference center, cafeteria, and an exhibition space.

Inside, the buildings have a combined floorspace of 96,000 sq m (roughly a million sq ft), with the upper floors reserved for the Chinese state-owned Shenzhen Energy Company, and lower floors offering rented office space. The protruded section of the taller skyscraper hosts meeting rooms, executive clubs, and staff facilities.

The Shenzhen Energy Mansion's protruded areas host meeting rooms, executive clubs, and staff facilities with fantastic views of the city
Laurian Ghinitoiu

The buildings' facades comprise glazing and an aluminum skin which is patterned to control the amount of daylight that permeates within. This, along with strategically situated folds, helps mitigate the sun's glare and solar heat gain, thus reducing energy requirements for air-conditioning and other cooling methods.

"By folding parts of the envelope that would reduce solar loads and glare, a facade with closed and open parts oscillate between transparency to one side and opacity to the other," says the firm. "The closed parts provide high-insulation while blocking direct sunlight and providing views out. As a result, the towers appear as a classical shape with an organic pattern from a distance and as an elegant pleated structure from close-up.

"The sinuous direction of the facade corresponds to the solar orientation: it maximizes north-facing opening for natural light and views, while minimizing exposure on the sunny sides. This sustainable facade system reduces the overall energy consumption of the building without any moving parts or complicated technology."

The Shenzhen Energy Mansion's remarkable shape lends it a different appearance, depending on where in the city one is viewing it from
Chao Zhang

The Shenzhen Energy Mansion has been awarded LEED Gold certification (a green building standard). Other sustainable features include efficient lighting systems, greywater recycling, and each building is topped by a green roof.

Sources: Bjarke Ingels Group, Arup

View gallery - 16 images
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