1000 Trees shopping center,
design: Heatherwick Studio
The {tag:Pracownie} office presented a shopping mall whose form resembles two greenery-covered hills rising above the city's waterfront. The building is located in Shanghai, in the M50 art district area and on the banks of the Suzhou River. The goal of the project was to create a space that not only supports improved air quality, but also integrates the local community. 1000 Trees is a concept designed to inspire the transformation of congested urban areas into spaces that are more open and welcoming to their residents. The first phase of the project was completed in December 2022.
Shanghai's 1,000 Trees shopping center's form resembles two verdant hills rising above the city's waterfront
Photo by Qingyan Zhu © Heatherwick Studio
concept of a hill overgrown with greenery
In an urban landscape
The building takes the form of a hill, overgrown with greenery. The ten-story structure rests on a grid of concrete columns. Instead of a former industrial building, a mountain-like mass was created. The columns were topped with pots in which deciduous trees, shrubs and climbing plants were planted. The architects' goal was to soften the massiveness of the building by using a mesh structure and placing numerous pots. The whole creates the impression of a mountain slope that changes with the seasons.
We wanted to create a place that combines nature, commerce and well-being. We transformed a former factory site into a new space that explores the strong ties between art, landscape and architecture
- says Lisa Finlay,partner and group leader at Heatherwick Studio,
responsible for the project.
Shanghai's 1000 Trees Mall - The columns that support the structure have been topped with pots in which deciduous trees and shrubs have been planted
Photo by Qingyan Zhu © Heatherwick Studio
flexible structure
and varied spatial composition
The building is based on a flexible grid nine meters wide. Individual parts of the massing are designed as "pixels" that break up the perception of the building's scale and introduce contrast to the repeating towers in the area. Rather than hiding the columns behind the facade, they have been exposed, allowing for a freer use of interior space. In addition, they act as structural support, allowing the park to be elevated, which extends along the building, layer by layer, in the form of tree plantings.
Shanghai 1000 Trees shopping center - longitudinal cross-section
© Heatherwick Studio
sustainable development in the heart of the city
The facility is home to more than 1,000 trees and 250,000 plants. The total area is 62,706 square meters, housing 12 flagship stores, 91 stores and 63 food and beverage outlets. The planting strategy used not only increases biodiversity in the area, but also helps create a microclimate that naturally lowers the ambient temperature. Pedestrian paths run around the lower terraces, and the buildings have been designed to be accessible to pedestrians from all sides, providing easy connections to the nearby Putuo district.
Shanghai's 1000 Trees Mall - a view of the facility at night
Photo by Qingyan Zhu © Heatherwick Studio
The 1000 Trees project is inspired by the idea of transforming cities into social spaces. Instead of the homogeneous scale of a typical shopping complex, here we are creating numerous human-scale spaces. I believe this will be groundbreaking for those living and working in this densely built-up neighborhood
- Thomas Heatherwick says.
Shanghai's 1000 Trees shopping center - numerous artworks have appeared on the building's facade
Photo by Qingyan Zhu © Heatherwick Studio
Art as an integral part of the mall
The 1000 Trees building in Shanghai stands out not only for its unique vegetation, but also for its strong artistic touch. Numerous artworks have been placed in the building, and French street artist Paul Dezio has curated the project. The artists working with him created an impressive 40-meter-long mural that adorns the elevator shaft. In addition, artwork also graced the building's facade, where the wall on the street side was covered with artwork.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of Heatherwick Studio.
