ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
DOWN TO EARTH
Armed with the freedom to alter the structural , aesthetic , and programming plans for the podium , LMCA completely reimagined the space with new floor-to-floor heights and a re-programmed design that injects art and culture into its soul , reflecting the new developer ’ s status as one of the largest private art collectors in China . The resulting design will house designer boutiques , an art gallery , IMAX cinemas , exhibition space , and more , and pieces of the owner ’ s art collection will be interspersed in newly developed spaces throughout the project .
Retail facades require a certain amount of ventilation , and this solution provided us with a sort of screen element .
“ One of the biggest challenges we faced was determining how to optimize the programming and floor heights to align with the developer ’ s vision for its usage ,” notes Li Min Ching . “ We repositioned and repurposed most of the existing slabs and structure to save on natural resources , and to ensure that we didn ’ t waste any of the embodied carbon already used in the previous construction .”
With part of the foundation already built , the firm was restricted in terms of the amount of wiggle room it had for moving the perimeter columns . Nevertheless , they were able to make minor movements that opened the door to a new design approach that positions the entire pedestrian experience at the forefront , from the external entrance through to the main atrium . To position the latter as a central gathering space and focal point , the firm moved the original atrium to a more central position in the plan to ensure efficient retail circulation within a defined loop .
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