Minqiao Building, Fuzhou

The Minqiao Building in Fuzhou, China, is a compelling architectural icon comprised of paired towers -- a 40-floor, 155M commercial office tower and a 28-floor, 100M government office tower. The design team worked with the constraints of a narrow site to accommodate the tower program and maximize the allowable FAR of 11.20.

The building design is inspired by the rich natural landscape and mountainous environment surrounding Fuzhou. The concept, titled “Twin Peaks,” evokes the form of two mountain peaks rising up in tension as beacons on the horizon. The forms take their shape from the unique condition of the long and rectangular site, and from the provided solar envelope analysis, which smoothly carves the forms on the northern side and can be seen as a metaphor to the carving Shoushan stone sculptures, one of the three Superexcellences of Fuzhou.

An efficient footprint is derived from the shape of the site’s buildable area, which is elongated in the east to west direction. The shearing of the main tower forms into two equal parts serves to create an underlying tension between the two masses and breaks down both the north and south facades of each tower into smaller pieces.

155M Commercial Office Tower

The commercial office tower, designed to standards for Class A office buildings, is approached and entered from the north plaza. The grand office lobby lies directly beneath the split of the two tower forms and contains an interior open space of 14.5M tall that connects directly to the main, 3-zone elevator lobby.

The split core layout of the commercial office tower serves to maximize usable open office space on each floor while pushing parts of the service core to the east and west facades. Glazing on the north and south is structural silicone glazed, unitized curtainwall system detailed to emphasize the verticality of the tower which effectively wraps the entire building from north to south. The roof parapet projects up to create an iconic void on the east and west facades where the massive structures holding up the parapet become highly visible at night. The east and west sides of the tower are glazed with an iconic curtainwall that stands out from a distance and is equally stunning up close because of the “jewel-box” quality of intricate detailing.

100M Government Office Tower

Entry to the government office tower is similarly from the north plaza, or via the below grade parking levels into the 9M tall main lobby. The classic layout of a central core works well to create a desirable office depth for Chinese government use while containing all service functions within. A form rising between the two towers provides a centrally located 400 person meeting space for governement uses. The government office tower is clad with an architectural metal system with a similar spacing as the main office tower. The addition of more metal, as well as a shadow-box spandrel panel creates a sophisticated design which echoes the East tower, however with better economy of materials.

Retail Podium

The retail podium occurs within the first 3 levels of each tower, and within an additional form on the east, a highly visible part of the site for flagship retail stores. Leasable areas have been maximized and can be accessed either internally, or from the street. In addition, retail at B-1 contains large, highly desirable space for larger tenants and is at the base of the atrium where it receives natural light from above and enjoys a direct external connection to neighboring retail sites.

Landscape

As an extension of the architecture, the landscape design serves to bring an energy to the exterior spaces surrounding the building and shape the experience of the individual by immersing them in environments that are spatially and materially engaging. This is achieved through stone patterning which echoes the shearing nature of the building forms to create large open plazas, and careful selection and organization of vegetation. Arrangements of new and existing trees form permeable transitions between the site and the greater urban context at scales of the pedestrian and automobile. Site art is located in strategic places such as above the basement automobile ramps for creative design of canopies with cutting edge use of materials and forms.