Fluid forms for Infinitus Plaza in Guangzhou
Infinitus Plaza, the new global headquarters of Infinitus China, was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects in Guangzhou and incorporates work environments designed to foster connectivity, creativity and entrepreneurship. It also includes facilities for herbal research and group safety assessment labs, as well as a learning center for conferences and exhibitions.
Zaha Hadid Architects presents Infinitus Plaza, the recently opened global headquarters in Guangzhou, China, for Infinitus China, a health and wellness company specializing in the research and development of herbal products. Covering 185,643 square meters, it is a gateway to Baiyun Central Business District, a central business district built on the site of the disused Baiyun Airport and linking downtown Guangzhou with Feixiang Gongyuan Park and the new communities in the redeveloped area. Located next to Feixiang Park Station on Guangzhou Metro Line 2, the project straddles its underground tunnel, dividing the space into two interconnected multi-level buildings.
Generating healthier collaborative workspaces more suited to recent work methods, the building is designed over eight floors as a series of infinite rings that enhance interaction and communication between all departments. Arranged around atriums and central courtyards, echoing the infinity symbol “∞,” the design creates a variety of shared indoor and outdoor spaces that reinforce the sense of community (Si Li Ji Ren) defining Infinitus’ corporate culture.
The connected decks house a variety of flexible common areas for employees that prioritize individual and overall well-being, including gym and exercise rooms, recreation and relaxation areas, and a restaurant and café. Bridges also connect the plaza offices to other commercial and dining wings. Located in the region’s humid subtropical monsoon climate, the plaza is built to LEED Gold certification and the equivalent 3-star rating of China’s green building program. Its carbon emissions are calculated at 15.3% embodied and 84.7% operational.
Structural optimization reduces the amount of concrete required and increases the proportion of recyclable content. More than 25 tons of recycled materials are used in the realization, including steel, copper and glass aluminum alloy profiles, gypsum and wood products. The analysis of the annual solar irradiation determines the width of the external terraces, in order to guarantee the self-shading of the building, defines the external shading panels in perforated aluminum and thus optimizes the reduction of solar gains. These measures, combined with low-emissivity double glazing, ensure effective solar protection and thermal insulation for good natural lighting throughout the building, while reducing energy consumption.