The “Pyramid Apartment” has recently become a famous landmark in Kunshan, Suzhou, China, due to its incredibly unique architecture.
The apartment complex consists of three buildings in Kunshan, a satellite city of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. It has been in use since 2013, with a total floor area of 130,000 square meters. The unique design of the buildings quickly became a hot topic on social media. (Photo: Sina).
Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, is the most economically powerful district-level city in China, and Huqiao Town is located next to Shanghai.
In Huqiao, there is a residential area called “Pyramid Apartment”, which has a rather special shape, resembling the Egyptian pyramids from a distance. It is quite spectacular and looks like a futuristic building from a science fiction movie. Unlike most buildings with unusual appearances that are used as business offices and hotels.
“Pyramid Apartment” is intended for residential purposes. Except for the ground floor (primarily shops), the upper floors are essentially apartments. The pyramid shape not only enhances the aesthetics of the building but also allows the entire structure to enjoy ample sunlight.
This building, located in Huqiao Town, Kunshan, has a trendy name, “Youzhan Future City”, covering an area equivalent to 18 football fields, completed and put into use in 2013. The Masters’ Architectural Office, the design company for the apartment complex, stated that they drew inspiration from the image of terraced fields in China and “parkour” – the act of running and jumping between architectural structures. (Photo: Sina).
However, regarding this uniquely designed building, netizens have expressed mixed opinions. While many believe that the design style of this building is very trendy and avant-garde, some joked: “With this design, people might not need to worry about someone jumping off the building.”
Of course, some netizens have also expressed that “This type of pyramid-shaped building is very unlucky because pyramids are tombs, and living there may not bring good fortune.” Some even remarked: “There are too many balconies here. I might get lost in this area.”
According to Daily Toutiao, the architect of this pyramid building is Mao Houde, a Japanese of Chinese descent, who studied under the famous Japanese architect Kazusei Sakamoto and is also the founder of “Masters’ Architectural Office.”
Mao Houde has worked in the industry for over 30 years and lived in Japan for 10 years. He has personally created numerous groundbreaking buildings, and this interesting and unique “pyramid” structure truly embodies Mao Houde’s unique design ideas, which prioritize “People.”
Overall, the “Pyramid Apartment” remains very attractive in the eyes of many, especially photographers. Since it gained popularity, it has attracted many tourists from Suzhou, Shanghai, and other nearby cities to visit and take photos.
In the pyramid model, the highest floor contains only one apartment. This room is likened to a presidential suite in luxury hotels. Many netizens joke that the person living on the top floor could only be a wealthy and powerful CEO, albeit living an introverted lifestyle. (Photo: Sina).
From the top of the building, one can see the balconies constructed there, resembling extended staircases arranged in layers. Some joke that a building like this is the most suitable place for parkour, as even if one slips, they only fall from the height of one floor, which is not life-threatening. (Photo: Sina).
The units in the building generally range from 30 to 60 square meters with a height of 4.8 meters. Most residents living in this building are young people. Since its completion, this building has become one of the most famous buildings on local social media. (Photo: Sina).
The peculiarity of this building lies not only in the complaints and mockery from netizens about its shape but also in the fact that former residents have complained about the lack of space and equipment for cooking inside. On a positive note, this design may facilitate neighbors “gossiping” with each other; however, on the downside, the balconies on each floor are clearly visible to those living above, indicating a lack of privacy. (Photo: Sina).
A total of 601 households are planned across the three buildings. Between the balconies of each apartment and the upper floors, there is a drainage platform, ensuring that all lighting and ventilation systems on the floors are very good. Huqiao used to be a remote town in Kunshan, but it has now developed into a modern urban area filled with high-rise buildings. (Photo: Sina).
