SHANGHAI | Shanghai Tower / 上海中心大厦 | 2,073 FT / 632 M | 128 FLOORS

[staff]

That's a spectacular design and a reasonable height.
As far as twisting towers go, this is an appropriate sequel to the Turning Torso.

[Pandemonious]

Still no official source claiming that Gensler is the winner. A few pages back, news from ss.cn claimed SOM wasnt even in the competition anymore, which wasn't true. I will wait for an official press release before I concede that this unspectacular design (IMO) is in fact the winner. I would think that if they won that it would at least be posted on Gensler's website as this would be by far the biggest tower they have ever done.

[Fabb]

I agree that the absence of info in the press is not a good sign.

The following is an excerpt of an article published last April 15th in the Earth Time. Not a word about the Shanghai center.

Gensler is a global design, planning, and strategic consulting firm, with over 3000 professionals networked across 30 offices on five continents. Consistently ranked by U.S. and international industry surveys as the leading architecture and interior design firm, Gensler leverages its deep resources and diverse expertise to develop design solutions for industries across the globe. Since 1965, Gensler has collaborated with clients to create environments that enhance organizational performance, achieve measurable business goals, enrich people and communities and enhance everyday experiences. For its longstanding commitment to the advancement of sustainable design, Gensler received the Leadership Award from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2005.

[werico]

i personally think this kind of rumour does make a sense, as someone on ss.cn who's related to the project claimed some time ago that the final competition was between Gensler and Foster...

And now that a second source on ABBS forum has just revealed Gensler as the final winner, it's not totally groundless...

let's wait for the offical news...

[Pandemonious]

^There were 4 firms in the final round as far as I was told, so that info was wrong as well.

The resubmission for the final round was literally just 5-6(?) weeks ago. Considering it took well over a year from original design submission to the final round.. I find it hard to believe it would even move that fast now, but then again..they have cleared the site.

Hopefully we can get some official news soon..

[staff]

The other remaining finalist by Foster & Partners. Posted by z0rg at SSC.

[staff]

The Gensler design compared to Jin Mao and SWFC, by Saturnspace.

[JDRCRASH]

It actually looks nice.

[Fabb]

It's much better than Foster's design, who, btw, recycled his previous works.

[Stratosphere]

Originally Posted by staff

The Gensler design compared to Jin Mao and SWFC, by Saturnspace.

It might just be taller than the Chicago Spire and the Russia Tower. I'd say in the 640m - 650m range.

[Stratosphere]

Originally Posted by staff

The other remaining finalist by Foster & Partners. Posted by z0rg at SSC.

The external bracing reminds me of the SOM proposal and the Russia Tower (also by Foster), though this is still a beautiful design. A three-sided pyramid with round edges and curved sides that make it look like a cone. There are also elements from Tokyo's Millenium Tower vision (also by Foster) in this one. The way the floors are divided into sections.

SOM's proposal


Millenium Tower

[Fabb]

I can't believe the external skin will be so transparent.
The idea is very appealing, but I'm skeptical about the ability to produce that effect.

[staff]

^^
I think it's quite common in renderings that the cladding looks more transparent than the outcome.

[Fabb]

That's true.
But in the specific case of this design, the cladding will have quite an importance. If it's not transparent, the building will just look like a distorted pipe.

[Lecom]

Great design, among the better ones in the competition.

[Lecom]

Originally Posted by Fabb

That's true.
But in the specific case of this design, the cladding will have quite an importance. If it's not transparent, the building will just look like a distorted pipe.

So? SWFC is not transparent, and it sure as hell looks like a distorted shampoo bottle/beer bottle opener, but it's still a great building.

[Aleks]

Yeah, I think it's great to show the large atrium's in the building to show off the greatness of the design. I like the ideas in the Foster proposal but the design is a little too mehh for me. The atrium's and bracing in the Foster proposal looks nice plain white but not lit a golden color. And I like the hotel part where the steel bracing outlines the shape of the lower floors. The top is a little too pinty though.

I have a feeling the Gensler design will win and hopefully the winner will not be chosen by their name status but rather for the design. Gensler won it for me.

[Fabb]

Originally Posted by Lecom

So? SWFC is not transparent, and it sure as hell looks like a distorted shampoo bottle/beer bottle opener, but it's still a great building.

Not distorted.

What's great about Gensler's design is that it's truly organic, but in an elegant way.
I think it has to be more than a mere sensual surface though.
The transparent skin will make it look like a cell, a living organism... if it keeps its promises.

[Patrick]

I really hope Genslers design wins, Fosters is just too plain and I really dislike the shape of the building.

[Aleks]

Originally Posted by Fabb

The transparent skin will make it look like a cell, a living organism... if it keeps its promises.

Holy shit. I see it now. It kinda looks like a type of sea serpent that you can see though. It would be wonderful if it has a row of lights moving up that opening section on it's side. It would look like an underwater serpent with a colored spine.

Underwater serpent? Dragon? China?

Did the architects ever say where the inspiration came from?