The Horizontal Skyscraper

A new building going up in China is will be the as long as the Empire State Building is high. It will also be raised on columns to create a parkland underneath, giving the impression that it is floating.

1 minute read

April 15, 2009, 5:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

"This 'floating' design is poetically described by its designers as if the building were 'once floating on a higher sea that has now subsided; leaving the structure propped up high on glass and white, coral-like legs.'

The columns are also designed to free up space for parks underneath and around the building. 'The elevated structure frees up ground space which is made into a public park, with the building itself providing shaded areas. Rather than the conventional walled-off nature of corporate compounds, as much land as possible will thus be given back to the public. Sea and land breezes can blow freely through the underside of the buildings and into a garden of tropical plants, pools and walkways with cafes and restaurants.' Shanghai Daily says the park design will be modern, yet natural, channeling Brazilian landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx."

FULL STORY: China’s New ‘Horizontal Skyscraper’ Frees up Parkspace

Monday, April 13, 2009 in ASLA's The Dirt blog

Architecture China

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