SHANGHAI | Jin Mao Tower | 1,380 FT / 421 M | 88 FLOORS | 1999
This tower when completed kind of announced the Shanghai skyline to the architectural world. Designed by Adrian Smith of the SOM Chicago office, the design is based on a series of 8's which define the setbacks, facade break-up, and proportion. The building also has 88 floors.
I'm pretty sure this building replaced the John Hancock in Chicago as the tallest mixed-use tower in the world. There are offices up to the 56th floor, where begins an exquisite Grand Hyatt Hotel. An atrium is formed by the outer hotel rooms and is able to be looked down on from the 88th floor observation deck.
I have to say that I think this building is very hard to photograph...and I also have to say that I didn't think a whole lot of the design until I saw it in person. Once I arrived in Shanghai though, I went right to Lujiazui to see it. The layering of the facade and the proportioning is incredible. The (stainless?) skin reflects the sun wonderfully...and the jagged cap nearly rivals the Chrysler in terms of visual interest.
I did happen to also stay in the Jin Mao as a guest at the Hyatt. And thanks to Staff and Giallo (whom I got access to the hotel floors to see my room view above the construction of the SWFC), I didn't actually stay in my room. This was my last night in China after 3+ weeks of travelling and I had treated myself. Still, it was a nice room and a good place to clean up to get ready to go to the airport.
I'm hoping maybe some of the Shanghai guys will share some additional photos...
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So beautiful and very iconic. Why hasn't the US gotten a beautiful supertall like this in the recent years? After all, this was designed by an American achitectural firm.
This building actually looks its best seen from above - so we'll be sure to see some awesome shots of this tower when the SWFC has opened. I'll be there on the opening day assaulting the Jin Mao from above...
Wow, awesome photos all of you! I am also a fan of this tower. However, to me, the setback scheme is a little fussy, and it makes the tower seem shorter than it really is. The facade, on the other hand, is absolutely amazing and wonderfully detailed. The intricate geometry of the upper floors and crown is mesmerizing.
Leaning over the edge as far as I could - stretched my arms out with the camera "upside down" (strapped around my arm).
It'll make more sense if you look at the picture from upside down, but this view gives a heavier vertigo effect.
I have to comment on this thread again; the images are simply outstanding. Looking through them again I realized just how nicely detailed this building is--truly top-notch. This fact combined with the setbacks provides for some radiant and dramatic reflections of sunlight from the facade.
in 2001 a Chinese labourer while in conversation with friends took a long hard look at the tower and knew he could climb it. To his friend's surprise he embarked on his mission immediately before he was arrested at the top, hands bleeding, and released a few hours later to the press. IN his story he said he wanted to make a statement for the life of migrants in Shanghai...
So far 5 people have now climbed the building including the French Spiderman. The most recent was in 2007, 7 months after Alain Robert, in the early hours of the morning. Nowadays the climbers are jailed for a week for public disorder offences (it usually causes evacuation at the base, and dangerous rescue efforts).
latest climb:
Spiderman
Basically the tower is one big climbing frame or ladder due to the steel struts. Robert commented his 6 year old could climb it.
That is one gorgeous skyscraper! One of my favourites out of asia.
Thanks for the view from above- I've never done a drawing of this skyscraper, because the crown was proving very difficult. But that view should help make things easier.
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