U+ Design Partners - 2018
Yanghe Global Headquarters
AIA NOVA Award of Excellence, 2019 (Unbuilt)
Projects
The Yanghe global headquarters project is sited on an important Blvd. in Nanjing, China. Just steps from Alibaba Site, Financial Center, Youth Olympic Center (by Zaha Hadid) and the landmark, Nanjing eye. Our client, Yanghe (the third largest white wine company in China) no doubt chose this site for its prominent position on this prestigious boulevard. As such, the design team understood this new headquarters to be a unique branding opportunity for our client.
Program:
Corporate Office Headquarters
Tower floors (1 Restaurant, 2 Hotel, 18 Office, 2 rooftop lounge & event)
Podium floors (4 Event/Conferencing, Cafeteria, rooftop sports deck, other amenities)
2 levels of underground parking
Lead Design Firm:
U+ Design Partners, Mclean VA
James W. Tilghman, AIA (Principal)
Role:
Project Designer
Concept Design Team
SD Design Details Development - Rooftop Star Club
Branding
The design team thoroughly researched the Yanghe company, their mission, brand, and product lines and sought to achieve a building design that would be a clear symbol of the Yanghe brand on the skyline. In order to accomplish this goal, several themes and images were derived from the Yanghe brand narrative. The similarity of its name, “Yanghe”, speaks to the nearby Yangtze river and the canals that run adjacent to the site.
CANOPY OF DREAMS
roof top "sky lounge"
"Blue"
The theme of “blue”, is a hallmark of the Yanghe product lines: (Sky Blue, Sea Blue & Dream Blue Product Levels). As such the facets of the tower façade are composed of several different glass tints of blue to achieve the impression of the sun reflecting on waves in the water. At night, the angular points of the tower façade alight as if stars in the sky, and a canopy of dreams tops the rooftop sky lounge, creating a magical contrast with the night sky above. Furthermore, the edges of the tower and podium are rounded and smooth to facilitate the impression of fluidity on the sea.
SKY BLUE
DREAM BLUE
SEA BLUE
"Facade Development"
To further the concept, the podium skin was inspired by the Escher image, Sky and Water I, depicting fish and birds. In this way, the podium screen takes the form of what may be perceived as either the scales of a fish or wings of a bird… you can decide, what do you see?
"Program"
Overall, this project catered to a complex group of programs housed in 2 primary structures. The 20 story office tower includes 18 floors of office, 2 hotel floors, a restaurant and food service level, as well as an impressive entrance and lobby. Offices, podium rooftop sports deck & landscape plaza. At the very top of the structure is the pinnacle “Sky Lounge” featuring 2 levels of lounge, restaurant and event space beneath a… canopy of dreams overlooking Nanjing city from above. The formal composition is of a flagship vessel on the sea.
