Renowned British practice Foster + Partners has won the competition to design the Shanghai headquarters for Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The latest building of the company has been designed with the help of an algorithm that combines major aspects of the project and gives it a unique structure.
“We are delighted to be designing the new Shanghai headquarters for Alibaba, the world’s largest online retailer and e-commerce Company. Our design emphasizes the importance of communication, the integrity of the working community and above all, the creation of an image that reflects the standing of Alibaba. The scheme is truly designed from the inside out, centered on a dynamic, sheltered public space capitalizing on its amazing location with its views of the Huangpu River and the Bund.” – Luke Fox, head of studio, Foster + Partners.
Imagined as a “signature building”, the project aims to showcase the company’s distinct working culture to the public. Located along the Shanghai Corniche, Xuhui Riverside is a new and vibrant area of the city. Opening up to the Huangpu River and the Pudong CBD, the building’s design presents a large accessible public space, activating the heart of the structure, and allowing “people a glimpse into the world of Alibaba”. The project pushes the idea of communication, by encouraging visual and physical connection between the interior space and the outdoors.
