Andy Song
This August, I visited Shenzhen, China, to visit family and work on some art projects. Coincidentally, right next to my studio was the Shenzhen Energy Mansion -- another masterpiece designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, it started construction in 2012 and opened in 2018. In my opinion, what the Shenzhen Energy Mansion does really well aesthetically is standing out, but not too much. The building as a whole fits in with the skyscrapers of "China's Silicon Valley", but has a touch of uniqueness in its curving form that plays with space to create illusions from various angles.
The Undulating Envelope
The exterior of the Shenzhen Energy Mansion is coated by a building envelope of protruding 45 degree rectangular prisms (shown better through the images below). I especially like this feature, because it distinguishes the Energy Mansion from traditional glass curtain wall skyscrapers, which is something I've expressed a disliking for in previous blogs.
At the same time, the undulating envelope serves a vital function: reducing solar glare. When I visited Shenzhen, it was an abysmal 35-40 degrees Celsius outside, with harsh sunlight bearing on pedestrians all the time.
The envelope consists of opaque panels and transparent glazed panels (as shown in the illustration to the right). This configuration still lets in a good amount of natural light but heavily reduces solar glare.
In the pictures below, you can see the difference between east/west panels and the north/south panels in both materiality (matte vs. glossy) and atmosphere (unwelcoming vs. comforting). I'm not too sure if this is a good or bad design choice, but it does a great job of piquing the interest of passersby.
Internal & External Views
Another thing the Shenzhen Energy Mansion does well is including spaces with breathtaking views for people to interact with. In the illustration below, you can see how the curved extrusions and cuts provide slightly angled, unobstructed views of the majestic Shenzhen landscape. This greatly enhances the user interaction experience (and makes for terrific meeting rooms too).
Another fantastic view is actually found inside the building -- the lobby of the big tower. This might be subject to a bit of personal bias, but the lobby masterfully combines the neutral colors of black, brown and white with greenery and decor, while leaving plenty of open space for comfort.
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