Splitting cells informs Shanghai research campus' interconnected buildings
Architecture studio BDP has unveiled a pharmaceutical research campus in Shanghai, China, comprised of interconnected buildings that evoke the movement of cell division.
Located within Hongqiao International Central Business District in west Shanghai, the 186,000-square-metre research and development headquarters was developed for Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group (CTTQ), one of China's leading pharmaceutical companies.
BDP's design was informed by the structure of cells, with two pairs of interconnected buildings on the site.
Both pairs were designed to resemble cells splitting with glass covered bridges connecting them.
The cores of the two research buildings are split between either end of the buildings, allowing large and flexible floor plates for changing laboratory requirements.
One of the research buildings was connected to a smaller block containing staff accommodation, while the other one was connected to a taller administrative building.
The administrative building is the highest on the site, with the aim of creating a vocal point for the new headquarters. A conference centre is connected to this building.
"This is a place for research within a campus that doesn't turn its back on the city or the people using it," said BDP director Tianyi Gu.
"The central heart opens the site up to the public, while the buildings are planned to make research, collaboration and everyday life work together."
A raised sky bridge curves around the site to connect all the buildings on the campus as well as providing a series of indoor and outdoor spaces for people to meet and interact.
Cafes, a canteen and gym are located at the lower levels of the buildings, supporting the wellbeing of the staff and work-life balance.
According to BDP, the arrangement of the four blocks was designed to break down the scale of the campus into a series of destinations.
"We've paid close attention to the things that make a difference to people's working day – access to daylight and fresh air, places to meet, eat and exercise, and spaces to step away from the laboratory," said Gu.
"For CTTQ, this is a research campus built for change, but also a place for people, a place with a strong sense of identity and an identifiable connection to Shanghai."
Passive design strategies were applied across the campus, including natural ventilation, facade solar shading, as well as customised facade designs responding to different orientations and functions.
Low-E glass was used to improve energy performance, while a large array of photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof, creating a unique pattern that add to the identity of the campus.
Elsewhere in China, KPF designed a tech campus in Shenzhen wrapped by a one-kilometer-long "landscape ribbon", while RSHP has completed a mixed-use skyscraper in Shanghai, informed by the city's historical laneway network.
The photography is courtesy of BDP.
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