Raffles City Hangzhou development plan located in Hangzhou, China has been revealed by Ben van Berkel of UNStudio. The sixty-story building incorporates the surrounding landscape of a city that is renown for its beauty and natural scenery, particularly in the West Lake area. The landscape twists and turns and is extruded upwards to create the winding façade. UNStudio’s Raffles City concept is focused on integrating a multi-use building and plan into an urban context; it houses retail spaces, offices, housing, and hotels and is due for completion in 2012.
Courtesy of UN Studio
After four years of planning and construction, the new structure will top off at exactly 60 stories providing a total area of almost 300,000 square meters. The development will sit on a plinth that will help it to appear as if it is emerging from the landscape. Raffles City is renown for its prosperity and will now have a building with a strong identity and individual character to show just that. At a height of 60-stories, the edifice will provide views to both the West Lake area as well as the Qiantang River.
Courtesy of UN Studio
Hoping to receive a LEED Gold certification, UNStudio has implemented a “green” approach as part of their design philosophy. Energy demands are ameliorated by use of natural ventilation while urban sustainability is addressed by allowing the building to have constant activity throughout 24/7.
Project info:
Architects: UNStudio
Country: China, Hangzhou
Year: 2009
Photographs: Courtesy of UNStudio
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.