OMA’s Pyramid Prism in Hangzhou: A Three-Dimensional Village

OMA’s Hangzhou Prism: A New Beacon in Future Tech City

This post explores the striking new Hangzhou Prism, a significant mixed-use development by renowned architects OMA. It is situated in Hangzhou’s rapidly developing Future Tech City.

We’ll delve into its unique architectural design and its multi-functional spaces. The innovative concept behind its creation highlights its potential to become a new landmark in the region.

A Monumental Vision for Urban Living

In the heart of Hangzhou’s Future Tech City, a new architectural icon has taken shape: the Hangzhou Prism. This 43,000-square-metre development, envisioned by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), represents a bold departure from conventional urban design.

It’s not just a building; it’s a statement about the future of integrated urban spaces. The structure is a marvel of modern engineering and creativity.

Characterized by its asymmetric, pyramidal form, it ascends to a height of 106.5 metres. The defining feature of Hangzhou Prism is its twin oblique facades, dotted with projecting cubic balconies.

These balconies add visual interest and create unique outdoor living spaces. OMA’s ambition was to move beyond typical monolithic residential towers that dominate city skylines.

They sought to weave distinct units into a single, porous structure. This approach aims to foster a sense of community and interconnectivity.

Blending Functionality with Inspiring Design

Hangzhou Prism is a testament to OMA’s expertise in creating complex, multi-functional environments. The building integrates a diverse range of uses, ensuring a vibrant atmosphere throughout the day and night.

A Symphony of Spaces

The 43,000 square metres of the Hangzhou Prism are thoughtfully allocated to serve a variety of purposes:

• Hotel: 20,000 square metres are dedicated to a luxurious hotel, promising world-class hospitality for visitors.
• Residences: The building features 10,000 square metres of residential units, offering a new dimension to urban living.
• Offices: 5,000 square metres are allocated to office spaces, fostering a collaborative environment for businesses.
• Commercial Space: 8,000 square metres are reserved for commercial activities, adding retail and dining options to the development.

The upper levels house exclusive lofts with private outdoor terraces and panoramic city views. This design emphasizes a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living.

Communal spaces are interspersed throughout the building, encouraging interaction among residents, hotel guests, office workers, and visitors.

Connecting with the City and its People

One of the most captivating features of Hangzhou Prism is its profound connection to the public realm. A significant void at ground level dramatically punctures the building’s facades and leads into an expansive atrium.

This atrium is conceptualized not just as an interior space, but as a public square. It is thoughtfully designed to extend outward and connect directly with an adjacent park.

This ground-level square is envisioned as a vibrant hub for public events and community gatherings. Its perimeter features carefully placed windows and projecting balconies, animating the space and creating a constant visual connection between the activity within the building and the public realm outside.

This design fosters a sense of openness and accessibility. It invites the wider community to engage with the development.

The project is led by OMA’s partner Chris van Duijn and project architect Michael Hadjistyllis. It was first unveiled in 2019.

Its underlying concept is rooted in a Chinese proverb, adding cultural resonance to its modern architectural expression. OMA describes the Hangzhou Prism as a “three-dimensional village”, a metaphor for their aspiration to foster vibrant social activity within a single, harmonious structure.

Photography for this project is credited to Tu Ximeng.

 
Here is the source article for this story: OMA designs pyramidal building in China as “three-dimensional village”