Inspired by the tidal waves of the Qiantang River, the aluminum and glass facade of the Wisdom Twin Towers presents an elegant design with its flowing curves.
The Shimao Riverfront Wisdom Towers project features the standout twin towers, each approximately 280 meters tall. (Video: Atelier Ping Jiang).
The Chinese architecture firm EID Arch is responsible for the Shimao Riverfront Wisdom Towers construction project, located in the Xinjiang District of Hangzhou. The project focuses on creating open spaces and urban connectivity while serving as a landmark for the city, as reported by Design Boom on May 17. The complex offers 370,000 square meters of new office, residential, and retail space, highlighted by the twin towers that soar to about 280 meters.
Towers A and B play a central role in the project, providing office spaces and residences. A three-story ancillary building offers retail spaces and community support. The horizontally rippling facade of the ancillary building mimics the shape of the nearby Qiantang River, enhancing the pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.
Unlike typical high-density commercial complexes, this new project optimizes public open space. The Qiantang River is renowned for its fierce tidal waves, inspiring the flowing pattern on the facades of the towers.
The twin towers are enveloped by glass walls and vertical aluminum fins. These vertical elements follow a hierarchy in size and shape, emphasizing the tidal concept as the tower surfaces rise and fall. Additionally, the aluminum fins provide shade, while high-quality glass helps reduce glare and solar heat gain.
The Wisdom Twin Towers utilize a hybrid structural system with support frames connected to large columns and cross bracing, optimizing the structure for maximum efficiency while achieving a slender form. EID Arch also collaborated with the structural engineering firm LERA, based in New York, to ensure the twin towers achieve LEED Gold certification, awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for environmentally friendly buildings.
“Unlike the towering structures characterized by a strong presence in the city, this new project stands out with its simple, graceful beauty. In a high-density urban environment, iconic buildings should not only showcase novelty and extravagance. Diverging from the prevailing trend towards height and dramatic design in China’s skyscrapers, the Wisdom Twin Towers quietly grace the banks of the Qiantang River with elegance and simplicity, resonating with the cultural characteristics of the city,” said EID Arch.
