Raffles City, the super living room of UNStudio

In China, the Dutch firm UNStudio and the real estate company CapitaLand are implementing the 8th urban development in the city of Hangzhou. With a concept rooted in the principles of sustainability, the project reflects a vertical neighborhood.

Spread over 400,000 m², the sustainable Raffles City urban center includes a 6-storey podium and two 250-meter-high towers. The mixed-use development accommodates commercial functions, restaurants, leisure areas and parking and has a direct connection to the metro. In the remaining 60 floors, residential and office automation dominate, as well as the service sector with the Conrad Hotel located there. UNStudio, founded by Ben van Berkel, designs a project that illustrates his own research on the concept of super living, or on strategies for creating sustainable and healthy cities offering great qualities of life and meeting all the future needs of residents. Drawing inspiration from the landscape character of Hangzhou, the architect creates forms that mimic the movement of the adjacent river and the dynamism of the waves. With an east-west orientation, it maximizes daylight and minimizes the production of shadows. In addition, the project is Gold LEED certified, based on certain established contextual criteria, such as large-scale natural ventilation, solar gain and choice of materials, among others. Now it is a landmark in the center of the new business district in Hangzhou City, China.