Brought to you by:Architect: KPFLocation: Hangzhou, ChinaCompletion Date: 2024Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) is leading the construction of Westlake 66, a massive development in Hangzhou, China, that will eventually deliver five office towers and a hotel. Seeking to rebuke the citys car-centric urbanism and connect two of its important landmarksWest Lake and the Grand Canal, both UNESCO World Heritage Sitesthe architects devised a pedestrian corridor at the center of the site. The space is defined by a 550-foot-long continuous facade system that wraps the podium of the projects various components, a feature that establishes visual continuity and guides pedestrians through the large site. The urban cell wall, as the architects refer to it, was constructed using modular metal panels that are lined with colorfully glazed terra-cotta, a reference to Hangzhous traditional architecture.Once complete, the Westlake 66 development will deliver 5 office towers and a hotel, rising above a public commercial avenue. (Courtesy KPF)As part of the masterplan, the project needed to create an unprecedented urban facade strategy that would transform pedestrian connectivity across multiple city blocks, respond to varying urban forces, said Jeff Kenoff, design principal at KPF. We realized that the facade needed to be sinuous, yet human in scale, and looked to the ancient walls of the West Lake as a historic precedent for effective urban circulatory infrastructure.The Urban Cell Wall spans across the podium of the developments multiple components. (Courtesy KPF)The composition of the facade modules references the architecture of two important cultural sites in Hangzhou. The proportions reflect the masonry bond patterns present at the Lingyin Temple, a Buddhist monastery located on the outskirts of the city, and the Duan Qin, or broken bridge, which spans the nearby West Lake in the citys center.KPF also connects the design of the urban cell wall to natural structures, such as the hexagonal prisms of a honeycomb or the cellular structure of xylem and phloem, the vascular tissue in plant life. The architects note that the cells within a honeycomb can be repurposed for a variety of uses, including the storage of honey, larva, and eggs. Similarly, the cells at the base of the Westlake 66 development are designed to accommodate a wide range of uses, allowing the architects to anticipate programmatic changes to the development that may occur during leasing. Over the course of the project, the biggest unknowns can often be leasing decisions as well as system changes, all calling for last-minute design updates to the facade, added Kenoff.The composition of the modules was inspired by historic masonry precedents. (Courtesy KPF)Natural metaphors also inspired the aesthetics and functionality of the urban cell wall. (Courtesy KPF)Terra-cotta was selected to line the inside of the metal modules, and was sourced from the nearby city of Yinxing, which posses large clay deposits and has a long history of pottery production dating back to the Song Dynasty. Working closely with the terra-cotta manufacturer, KPF created five glazes for the terra-cotta liner profiles, hues of red, orange, and yellow, that were derived from Hangzhous colorful architectural landmarks.The biggest challenge was matching the colors between extruded and straight segments and cast curved corners, in terms of color as well as dimension, since they are produced with different methods that use different clay substrates, Kenoff told AN. Using parametric and computational methods, the design team simplified the construction of the modules by prescribing 21 unique permutations that include seven exterior metal profiles, the aforementioned five terra-cotta glazes, and four infill panel types. These combinations allow the modules to be optimized according to use, site conditions, and shadingthe later improving the projects energy performance.Westlake 66 is currently pursuing LEED Platinum, China Green Building Label 3 Stars, and Well Platinum certifications.The modules are designed to be roughly human sized in scale. (Courtesy KPF)KPFs podium strategy for Westlake 66 demonstrates how successful advocacy on the part of the architect can improve the quality of public space, even within strictly commercial developments. This case also exemplifies the importance of facade design to such initiatives. The urban cell wall establishes spatial organization, human scale, color, and visual continuity within the larger project, working in tandem with the landscaping and circulation to enhance the urban experience within Hangzhous city center.Project SpecificationsArchitect: KPFExecutive Architect: Wong & OuyangLocal Design Institute: Zhejiang Province Institute of Architectural Design and ResearchLandscape Architect: Adrian L. NormanInterior Design (Retail): The Oval PartnershipInterior Design (Office): M Moser AssociatesStructural Engineer: ArupMEP Engineer: J. Roger PrestonElectrical Engineer: J. Roger PrestonCivil Engineer: ArupLighting Design: Inhabit GroupAV/Acoustics: Campbell Shillinglaw LauSignage/Wayfinding: Dutton Bray DesignTelecommunications: Campbell Shillinglaw LauFire & Life Safety Consultant: Arup Fire EngineeringFacade Consultant: ALT CladdingTraffic Design Consultant: MVA Hong KongGeneral Contractor: China Construction Eighth Engineering Division, Jiangsu Jianye Construction GroupClient: Hang Lung PropertiesFacade Contractor: Jangho Curtain Wall System EngineeringFacade System: Jangho Curtain Wall System EngineeringCladding: Huajian AluminumGlass: CSG, SYPInsulation: Owens Corning