Beijing’s Daxing area has been envisioned as a new gateway to the city. Located in the heart of Daxing district, the project operates as a key piece and the largest building complex within the regional development so far. The triangular tips of the floor plates become sky-garden balconies whose terraces provide a comfortable outdoor seating area. CLOU sees the outdoor workspace as a logical next step in the evolution of office culture.

Triangular Floors Design Strategies

Shoukai Vanke Centre is a 132,000 sqm mixed-use development which is composed of a 26,000 sqm shopping mall, a 124-meter-tall office tower as well as a hotel.

The office tower has a triangular shape which creates a strong presence at the main intersection yet appears elegant and slim from other points. The triangular shape is the result of a series of pragmatic decisions which include maximizing views towards the newly built park and integrating double-height sky-garden balconies into the tips of the floorplates. The terraces provide comfortable outdoor seating areas with spectacular views over the adjacent park.

Sky Gardens

The sky gardens balconies in the office towers across two floors provide a comfortable outdoor seating area with spectacular views over the adjacent park. While the design of the rooftop garden employs bright colors, lively forms, and landscape by BAM to engage visitors and promote opportunities for physical activities and playfulness.

Interior Design of Shopping Mall

The commercial complex will offer primarily F&B retail which provides the opportunity to create unconventional dining experiences. Utilizing this program, CLOU created a network of large terraces that are strategically placed and act as an extension of the shopfront. Elevated escalators and walkways connect to the adjacent terraces and weave the development into the 3D urban pedestrian network. This creates a central space that offers a view of overlapping planes and interlacing lines. The terraces have the flexibility for varying functions ranging from temporary booths, open bars, seating for dining, or even casual relaxation zones.

Technical sheet

Project Name: Shoukai Vanke Centre Beijing

Type: Shopping Mall, Office, Hotel

Client: Shokai, Vanke

Location: Beijing, China

Construction Area: 84,000 m² Above Ground, 48,000 m² Below Ground Architecture/Interior/Landscape Design: CLOU architects

Design Director: Jan F. Clostermann

Design Team: Christian Taeubert, Hua Ye, Karl Nyqvist, Ben de Lange, Ali Yildrim, Duarte Nuno Silva, Katarzyna Irzyk, Huan Wang, Nuno Cardoso Dias, Elaine Kwong, Dominic Black, Bing Han, Ma Wenlei

Construction Drawings: Sunlay Design Group

Landscape Consultant: BAM

MEP/Structure Consultant: CABR Technology

Façade Consultant: Inhabit Group

Lighting Consultant: LDPi

Signage Design: TRYCOOL

Photography: Shuhe, Amey Kandalgaonkar, BAM

About CLOU Architects

CLOU is an international design studio with award-winning expertise in architecture, interiors, and landscapes. Its extensive portfolio of built works encompasses mixed-use, retail, hospitality, education, and exhibition projects.

Founded by German architect Jan Clostermann, CLOU works closely with leading property developers and has delivered projects recognized for outside-the-box-thinking. CLOU is committed to tailoring each project to its unique challenges and local opportunities. It strives to realize projects that will positively influence the people involved in its process, the environment, and the communities who live and work there. CLOU team is a community of talents from all over the world who enjoy working collaboratively and imaginatively on bespoke, and integrated design solutions. The word CLOU means the main attraction. Harnessing their technical expertise and attention to detail, they are devoted to seeking unexpected solutions and realizing each project’s potential to become a CLOU.