The Wei He river and its tributaries are the most important sources of food, energy, and irrigation for the agriculture industry, recreation, and transportation in the development of the Greater Xi’an region throughout its long history. In the Xixian district, the two rivers of Wei He and Fang He are the major resources and symbolic centers of the entire masterplan.
Taking inspiration from the two rivers that flow into the plains, eroding the landforms into meandering valleys, the Shaanxi Jiangong Silkroad Innovation Center is shaped by these movements as well as the physical, environmental, and socioeconomic influences of the region. Rather than imposing itself on its site, this mixed-use project assimilates seamlessly into its environment. The result is a project where users feel they are inside an organic environment that responds to their surroundings.
CRTKL took a ground-up approach to design the masterplan of the Shaanxi Jiangong Silkroad Innovation Center. To continue the underground TOD pedestrian network and city landscape planning around the site, and by observing people’s movements in and around the existing site, the design team didn’t want to obstruct this natural movement with the new development. Thus, the towers are lifted above the ground to let the undulating landform with a large open public space freely flow into the middle of the site, as if people’s natural flow and activities carved the site to form a valley. It is a place where people can move fluidly and enjoy the wonderful views on cascading terrace levels. The retail podium becomes one with the landscape, and people’s movements become the iconic moments in the project, not the towers or the objects.
Just as the podium and grounds mark the Shaanxi Jiangong Silkroad Innovation Center with the green parklands, the two hovering towers connect the site with the distinct urban community and skyline. The two office towers are lifted well above the street level to minimize their impact on the ground below, allowing for open views and ample flow of air and daylight into the retail environment. The tower columns and diagonal braces form what look like tree branches, creating dynamic spaces on both the ground and towers above. With the intention of blurring the lines between different uses, a sense of choice, flexibility, and adaptability within the context of the convergence of work, culture, consumption, entertainment, and technology is created. Lobbies and amenities spaces under the towers become transparent glass vessels that start to take the form of the curvilinear tower landscape.
The Shaanxi Jiangong Silkroad Innovation Center offices are not only located in a unique and immersive environment where living, shopping, leisure and entertainment merge with the working environment but also include a variety of spaces for work and leisure inside the office towers. The main office tower has multiple amenities, including a common meeting and work space at the base, the communal sky garden at the middle of the tower, and a multi-story sky deck at the top where views open up in all directions for the Xixian and regions beyond.
Shaanxi Jiangong Silkroad Innovation Center apartment dwellers will not only enjoy the convenience of access to the retail, food and beverage, and entertainment venues throughout the development, but also have access to various amenities within the office tower, including sky gardens and lounges, which will offer spaces for both work and play.
Biophilia and healthy living is celebrated by maximizing natural light and views out to the parks as well as providing walkable and bike-friendly environments. Careful thoughts went into the façade modules in terms of view opportunities, light pollution, and energy conservation that affected the glazing ratio and distribution of the shading elements. The design respects people’s desire to associate with nature for a healthy and happy lifestyle.
CallisonRTKL designed the Shaanxi Jiangong Silkroad Innovation Center to be a space where nature meets the city, work meets living, and history meets the future.