MVRDV's jiaozi towers surround recreated heritage buildings

Jun 05, 2023

The Chengdu Jiaozi Courtyard Towers, a mixed-use complex designed by MVRDV, is set to fill the last vacant site in Chengdu‘s Jiaozi Park Financial and Business District. Adjacent to the district's central building complex, the Tianfu International Finance Centre, this project comprises three office towers and a conference center situated atop a ring-shaped plinth. Drawing inspiration from the local context, the building incorporates a retail village that pays homage to the traditional structures that once occupied the site. Construction has just begun on the mixed-use complex. image © Atchain | @atchain

The MVRDV-designed conference center and its three office towers range in height from approximately 80 to 130 meters (260 to 430 feet). Each element is strategically positioned at each corner of the nearly square site. The conference center stands out with its striking cantilever and facade design inspired by the bamboo-weaving traditions of the region. Positioned at the prominent corner facing the Tianfu International Finance Centre, it stands as an eye-catching addition to the development.

image © Atchain

Contrasting the square arrangement of the towers and conference center, the base of the building features a ring-shaped connecting plinth that creates a circular courtyard. Adjacent to the conference center, the plinth steps down to street level, establishing a visual connection and welcoming visitors to the heart of the site. Furthermore, the courtyard is accessible through three passages that cut through the plinth at other locations.

Within the circular courtyard, visitors are greeted by a contemporary interpretation of one- and two-story buildings, reminiscent of the traditional village that once occupied the site until the mid-2000s. These demolished structures have been recreated to scale, providing a retail village that combines shopping with cafes, bars, and restaurants. The aim is to create a lively and charming atmosphere within the circular plinth. Whenever possible, the small structures are proposed to be constructed using wood and recycled materials, reducing the embodied carbon in their construction.

image © Atchain

MVRDV founding partner Jacob van Rijs expresses the rarity of the opportunity presented by the Jiaozi Courtyard Towers, stating: ‘It is hard to imagine that this entire district was still rural 20 years ago. We entered this competition during the pandemic and discovered the village via Google Earth. With that in mind, we decided to create within the stake and historic world. Seeing this while surrounded by three new towers, you become aware of the rapid transition that this place has gone through.’

image © Atchain

The three office towers are designed to integrate with the surrounding urban fabric, and take shape with subtle details that prioritize sustainability. With the neighboring buildings already in place, a shadow study was conducted to determine when sunlight would strike each part of the design's surfaces. This analysis allowed the team to fine-tune the facade design, incorporating fins at three different angles to minimize solar heat gain. Openable panels within the office interiors, located behind these fins, offer user-controlled natural ventilation, reducing the need for mechanical cooling and subsequently decreasing operational energy consumption.

image © Tiptop

The rooftops of the towers serve as dedicated spaces for generating renewable energy, accommodating approximately 3,600 square meters of photovoltaic panels across all the complex's roofs and a portion of the towers’ facades. Alongside these efforts, sustainability strategies include green roofs on the plinth, the use of native vegetation, and water retention and reuse. These initiatives collectively contribute to the building's aspiration of achieving LEED-Gold certification and a three-star rating in the Chinese "three-star" sustainability system.