Shanghai's flower-shaped office

Netherlands-based architecture firm MVRDV has just completed the first of 10 buildings located next to Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai — the fourth  busiest airport in mainland China.The floral-shaped structure, dubbed the Flower Building, has more than 1,61,000 sq ft of office space, designed to meet a three-star green building label, the best energy performance rating available in China, a country known for its pollution woes.

Over the next few months, MVRDV will add nine more buildings to the planned office park, including retail space and parking. Underneath the structures, architecture firm Aedas will build a subterranean shopping mall. MVRDV won the competition to build the office park with a striking design that incorporated eco-friendly materials and systems.

Once awarded the contract, the firm ensured that the space would be both beautiful and eco-friendly. All of the buildings will include high-performance insulation, natural
ventilation systems and rainwater collection through green rooftops. The complex will have permeable road surfaces and nearby links to public transportation.

The Flower Building is the landmark in their overall plan, says MVRDV co-founder and principal architect, Jacob van Rijs. The building is located near the entrance to a new metro station and acts as a beacon for pedestrians. The second phase of the masterplan is under construction; the plan is to combine flexible, more generic office spaces with a village-like urban plan that offers intimacy and friendly outdoor spaces. The project is scheduled to be completed by early 2016.