Latest design, architecture and construction news in the Australia-China business community.

 

JPW wins Wuzhong Taihu City development 

Sydney-based architecture firm Johnson Pilton Walker has won an international competition for a 420,000m2 mixed use development at the new Tai Hu City in Wuzhong, which consists of four 200m towers and podiums. Cantilevered mid-level floors in each tower protruding as transparent glass boxes will become iconic forms marking the business centre of the new Tai Hu City. When viewed from the lake these geometric forms clearly articulate the city’s public urban spine. The four protrusions provide a visual object in the sky for people to view from the urban spine and will incorporate LED lighting for night animations.

Pictured: JPW’s 420,000m2 Taihu City Centre development.

JPW wins Suzhou Citizen Centre Project 

JPW has also been appointed to design a new citizen centre for the Suzhou Industrial Park – a community facility which brings government and community together. The building reflects the new government leaders’ aspirations for inclusive government. The building form is a symbolic bridge connecting the community and government emphasizing accessibility, transparency and environmental sustainability. By creating a green roof, the building maintains the existing parkland environment and green outlook for the surrounding high-rise residential and office buildings. In addition to the functional aspects of this One Stop Shop the building provides a focal point for the local community to meet, greet, relax and walk over.

Pictured: JPW’s Suzhou Citizen Centre Project

BAU completes Hangzhou Xiasha project 

BAU has won the design competition for the 30,000m2 project made up of retail, apartments, offices and entertainment. The buildings form a perimeter block with continuous retail edges along the external streets, and also along the internal pedestrian lanes, plazas, arcades and terraces. The site is highly permeable and connected in three dimensions via bridges, balconies and external stairs, allowing the entire complex to be explored by a multitude of routes. It includes a green roof network, a swimming pool, amphitheatre, pavilion and terraces overlooking the Qian Tang River. 

Pictured above: BAU’s Hangzhou Xiasha project. Construction has finished at Brearley Architects + Urbanists’ mixed-use complex in Hangzhou’s Xiasha.

Thomson Perrett secures a number of new golf projects in Greater China

Despite a slowdown in the Hong Kong and China golf development sector, Thomson Perrett, one of Australia’s most established golf course architecture firms, continues to secure contracts in Asia, including most recently, completing renovations to Hong Kong’s prestigious Clearwater Bay Golf Club. In addition, Thomson Perrett has completed new 18 hole courses in Dalian, Hainan Island and Xian. Other TP projects under construction include courses at Wujiang, Qinzhou and Nanjing. In Tianjin, TP is currently designing a championship course for the Tianjin Binhai Tourism Authority as part of a 90km2 tourism development being reclaimed from the ocean.

Pictured: The third hole at Hong Kong’s prestigious Clearwater Bay Golf club.

Jackson Architects completes Mashanzhen project

Jackson Architects has completes a residential master plan and design for 100 houses overlooking Lake Taihui in Mashanzhen, near Wuxi in Jiangsu province. The house sizes range from 350m2 to 850m2 and command three distinct areas of the site. The canal houses occupy the flat land and afford views of the waterways and the lake. The first part of the hill is the site for 30 hillside houses with clear views over the rooftops of the lake beyond. As you drive to the top of the site, a road connects five large villas. These Hilltop houses are five more remote villas, equipped with external terraces, decks, and swimming pools and luxurious living areas. The site includes a private members club, with spa, restaurants, café, floodlit tennis court, and swimming pool. The landscape walking tracks throughout the site add a recreational quality to this already beautiful landscape.

Pictured: Villas at Jackson Architects Mashanzhen, Lake Taihu project in Jiangsu province.

Hayball’s Taiyuan project

Hayball is designing a 200,000m2 mixed-use complex of retail, offices, serviced apartments and a hotel and conference centre for a development in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan. The site is located in the new CBD of Taiyuan, an important city in Shanxi province. Part of this CBD has been designated for health, hi-tech and university uses – future industries outlined for Shanxi. The bold architectural form incorporates an eggshell-like podium and the curved forms of the towers represent a new Taiyuan, embracing economic opportunities in contemporary China. In contrast to the architectural language of the external form and façade, a network of Hutong streets and courtyards lies within the complex – an interpretation of a traditional form of Chinese city.

Pictured: Hayball’s Taiyuan project in Shanxi province.

GroupGSA secures five star resorts in Hainan 

GroupGSA continues to strike success in China, winning two resort projects in Hainan – the commission to design the interiors of Diamond Beach Resort’s luxury apartments and the master plan for a second five-star resort. Diamond Beach interiors showcase a contemporary interpretation referencing traditional Chinese materials and textures in an open plan for modern indoor / outdoor lifestyle.

Pictured: Diamond Beach Luxury apartments. 

The Hainan five-star resort theme is a modern tropical style utilising wood columns and walls, low pitch exposed rafters for wide overhanging tile roofs. Reflection and infinity pools abound, filled with large rocks similar to the formations on the beach to the hotel gardens, giving a sense of union and reference to the beach.

Pictured: GroupGSA’s five-star resort in Hainan.

Denton Corker Marshall launches exhibition in Shenzhen

Melbourne architecture firm Denton Corker Marshall has launched an exhibition at OCT Art & Design Gallery in Shenzhen, which runs until November 24. The Exhibition titled ‘Small Buildings | Large Buildings | Non-Architecture’ will showcase some of the firm’s key projects around the world. Denton Corker Marshall also recently launched its third China book – ‘Works – Denton Corker Marshall’. The book will include some of the firm’s most significant projects from the last 10 years, including projects in Asia.

Pictured: ‘Small Buildings | Large Buildings | Non-Architecture’ runs until November 24 in Shenzhen.

Argyle Hotel Group Celebrates Its 40th Member Hotel in China 

Argyle Hotel Group (AHG) is proud to announce the signing of another member hotel into the Groups burgeoning stable of hotels. Argyle Grand Hotel Liaoning, located in Chaoyang, Liaoning Province has an investment of 400 Million RMB and a total construction area of 60,000m2. The property will have 300 spacious guest-rooms and suites over 19 floors. It will also offer extensive conference and meeting room facilities that will be equipped to cater for a myriad of events. Dining and entertainment options include a casual signature cafe, a fine dining Chinese restaurant, business centre, boutique and swimming pool. The hotel is expected to open in December 2016. Argyle Hotel Group has had continued strong growth and expansion throughout China with up to 40 hotels, 11 of which are now fully operational and US$ 2.8 billion of assets now under management. The group has shown great initiative in expanding its business frontier throughout greater China with many of the developments in second, third and fourth tier cities. China is the world’s fastest growing domestic and outbound travel market. ■

Pictured: Argyle Hotel Group’s 40th Member Hotel in China – the Argyle Grand Hotel Liaoning.

*If you have any news you would like included in Building Bulletin, please email the editor: sophiel@chinaconnections.com.au

Australian architects and design firms are at the forefront of designing Chinese master plans for new cities and suburbs, commercial and residential developments, sporting facilities and more. In our special February / March 2014 issue of Australia China Connections, we speak to a number of high profile Australian architecture and design firms about the business opportunities in China and the level of demand for their services in Asia – with particular emphasis on the success Australian companies are having in China’s retail sector. To learn more about how your business can participate in this special feature, please contact Carl Jetter on T: +61 3 9650 1598 / E: carlj@chinaconnections.com.au