Heatherwick Studio unveils Shanghai exhibition hall with facade of ‘interwoven ribbons’

2023-06-08T12:05:00-04:00

Heatherwick Studio has revealed the design of a new public exhibition hall in Shanghai. Named the ‘Orbit’ and located along the city’s West Bund waterfront, the scheme has been designed to be “seemingly accessible from 360 degrees.”

Image credit: Heatherwick Studio

Outside, the center’s facade was designed to resemble a series of interwoven ribbons forming an undulating set of publicly accessible staircases, bridges, and terraces. The circulation elements allow visitors to navigate to the building’s rooftop garden, which contains multiple viewing platforms.

Image credit: Devisual

The ‘ribbon’ staircases also seek to echo the form of traditional Chinese moon bridges, translated to a contemporary form that makes the building “appear as if it is in constant motion.” Visitors ascending the structure can peer through glazed openings in the facade to glimpse the inner exhibition hall, while on the rooftop terrace, the ribbons unravel into an open-air canopy.

Image credit: Devisual

Inside, th...

Archinect - News

Heatherwick Studio unveils Shanghai exhibition hall with facade of ‘interwoven ribbons’