CBD in Xian

Twin Magnets
CBD in Xian

This is a typical Chinese CBD project where the architect is forced to follow the strict local “rules” for commercial developments: several office towers covered in curtain wall glass on top of a commercial podium.
With those fixed premises we tried to give expression and identities to these two elements that you can see everywhere in the no-ending Chinese urban landscape.
The metaphoric expression is very simple: two fat heavy and defined twin objects compressing a slim podium-slab.
The identity of the towers is defined by the round shape edges giving the feeling not being “connected” to the podium and by the glass 3D texture that gives strong personality to the curtain wall façade, acting like a urban dress instead than a urban building elevation. In contrast with the transparent towers skin the podium is a slim opaque objects that inflects under the pressure of the heavy towers creating an arched main entrance. The podium will contain the commercial malls and parking. The restaurants and cafes will be located in the lower part of the towers where are connected to each other with a transparent sub-podium that lays on top of the main podium.