An integrated commercial precinct for Shanghai

Shanghai has welcomed a new mixed-use urban destination, Seasons Place, next to one of the city’s major railway interchanges, the Shanghai Railway Station in Jing'an District.

Lead8 is the retail architect and retail interior designer for the development and collaborated with Goettsch Partners on the overall masterplan.

The vision was to build a vibrant regional centre that reflected the interconnectivity of the site with the city’s transportation system and existing urban networks. The overall project prioritises public shared space and pedestrianisation to create a convenient and accessible urban destination.

Positioned over two parcels of land, the scheme weaves together five buildings on the main western plot, and a headquarters building on the eastern plot. The integrated development features 146,000 sqm of commercial office space, 69,000 sqm of retail, 67,000 sqm of loft apartment space, and a 5,000 sqm cultural centre.

Permeable Design and Planning

To unite the mixed-use programming, the design looks at sculptural massing, carving channels through the buildings to animate and connect the internal streetscape. Pedestrianisation, permeability, circulation and animation define Lead8’s approach.

The result is a development that presents an abundance of shared public space with a woven collection of open-air retail streets connecting both parcels of the development.

The architecture and façade design have helped to facilitate the development’s flexible space arrangement. The overall shape of the buildings is soft and rounded with clear horizontal layers. The stepped-down approach allows the commercial area to have a large number of terraced areas, contributing to a shared commercial atmosphere.

The curvature of the buildings enhances the flexibility of the development, and adapts to sunlight, reflecting the design concept of combining movement and stillness in the building.

Seasons Place has created a thriving landmark in Jing’an, acting as a strategically connected beacon to connect people within the district and from the neighbouring transportation hubs.