Coastal Construction

The project’s architectural concept achieves three main objectives: civic responsibility, with the creation of a new urban  waterfront district; ecological sensitivity, in how it connects to its natural environment; and finally resort exclusivity, as it responds to the client and hotel operator’s functional requirements.

“Two key questions were consistently addressed: what will residents and visitors take away from their experiences, and what makes this project special?”

1. What was the technological approach to designing a tower of this height?

Wenling Centre integrates civic responsibility, ecological sensitivity, and resort exclusivity. The tower’s slim profile is achieved through strategic engineering: enlarged ‘super columns’ at the four corners reduce both the core size and perimeter columns, optimizing the structure for its 300-meter height. The crown, a signature design element, is meticulously engineered to be free of internal structures, preserving its defining feature and enhancing the tower’s iconic presence in Wenling – a city known for its rapid economic growth along China’s eastern seaboard and its evolution into a key manufacturing and tourism hub in the Yangtze River Delta region. 

2. What impact will this building have on the surrounding community/how is it people-centric?

Throughout the design process, two key questions were consistently addressed: what will residents and visitors take away from their experiences, and what makes this project special? The building is designed to positively impact the surrounding community by serving three primary user groups: travellers, residents, and locals. The project balances an iconic tower design with sensitive waterfront place-making, emphasizing pedestrian and water taxi accessibility. It creates a sequence of public waterfront spaces at ground level while offering exclusive elevated terraces for residents and hotel guests, fostering community engagement and enhancing quality of life.  

To spend time in this building is to experience a seamless blend of luxury and locality, where the bustle of the waterfront promenade transitions into serene, elevated spaces that offer breathtaking views of the city and coastline. 

3. What’s unique about designing a tall tower/what challenges did you need to overcome?

Tower A’s distinctive winged crown serves as both its signature design feature and a symbol of Wenling’s architectural innovation. The primary design challenge was integrating this unique crown while maintaining the building’s structural integrity and safety.   The design strategically eliminates any structure/MEP from the internal gap, preserving this strong feature as it helps to define the tower’s upward accent while wind ventilation studies ensure safety and functionality.  

The team balanced the hotel’s functional requirements with creating a luxurious and exclusive guest experience, while carefully considering the building’s ecological impact and its role in enhancing both the community and natural environment.