2010 Galleries
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Galleries // 2010 Spark:Pro // Jianianhua Center
Jianianhua Center
Winner - Silver
Competition: Spark:Pro
Designer: Lonny Israel
Design Type: Architecture, Spaces
Company / Organization / School: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Jianianhua Center defines a new kind of civic landmark, one that establishes a meaning and presence through an innovative integration of architecture and graphic design. Through the unexpected application of common billboard technology, the design adds beauty and color to the neighborhood and serves as a visual anchor for an adjacent park and plaza. This mixed-use retail and office complex is located in the heart of Chongqing, a modern port city in southwest China. To counter its often-foggy climate, the city presents an exuberant array of colorful and electrified signage and advertising that comes alive at night. As part of a redevelopment master plan, the city commissioned the design of a central park and plaza, anchored by the Jianianhua Center. Jianianhua is a visible symbol of Chongqing’s revitalization goals: improving the city’s image, stimulating economic development, and streamlining traffic. The transparent glass building, which steps down from a narrow 15-story volume on the south to an eight-story retail component, stands in stark contrast to its heavier concrete neighbors, while its precise geometry anchors the adjacent plaza and park. The most innovative element of the building is its façade design, incorporating a standard triad billboard system, maximizing visual intensity.
