Zaha Hadid Architects’ Infinitus Plaza has opened in Baiyun, a city in the north of China’s Guangdong Province.
The 185,643-square-meter project serves as the new global headquarters for healthcare provider Infinitus China. It includes the company’s herbal medicine research facilities and safety assessment labs, as well as a learning center for conferences and exhibitions.
A plaza defines the gateway to the new Baiyun Central Business District at the site of the decommissioned Baiyun Airport. With the aim of establishing healthy, adaptable, and collaborative workspaces, the plaza is designed over eight stories as a series of infinity symbol-shaped layers, claiming to enhance interaction and communication between all departments.
The structure is arranged around central atria and courtyards, creating a variety of shared indoor and outdoor spaces. Interconnecting bridges also house various flexible communal spaces, such as gym and exercise rooms, recreation and relaxation zones, and a restaurant and cafe. They also connect the plaza’s offices to other shopping and dining areas.
Infinitus Plaza was designed and constructed to LEED Gold certification and the equivalent 3-Stars of China’s Green Building Program. Additionally, the design reduced the amount of concrete required and increased the proportion of recyclable content. According to the architects, 25,088.33 tons of recycled materials were used in the construction of the plaza. They were primarily steel, copper, glass, aluminum alloy profiles, gypsum products, and wood.
The landscaping across the plaza is supported by its system of rainwater collection, filtration, and reuse. The gardens on the roof of the 3rd, 7th, and 8th floors grow herbs and plants native to the region and are naturally irrigated. These outdoor areas, which comprise 49.36% of the project’s total roof area, are linked by a rooftop jogging track and walking paths.
As per the architects: “Anchoring Guangzhou’s new Baiyun Central Business District as a national centre for China’s health and wellness industries, Infinitus China’s new headquarters combines innovative design and construction technologies with proven sustainability strategies to create new work environments that unite all departments and enhance communication throughout the group.”
8 Comments
is this the new meta headquarters?
Its amazing that once we have seen so many of these "epic" structures, all that comes to mind is "ok cool"
Set design for Star Trek The Next Generation, circa 1987.
thought these were renders...
Swooshy curves aside, it would be great to see more drawings and diagrams explaining the engineering and details behind the realization of such geometries.
We have added more floor plans, sections, elevations, and diagrams to the article's image gallery.
It seems that ZHA are stuck with this infinity thing plazas. Check Beirut department store which was designed during the days of Zaha Hadid, it was more subtle, more refined and bold. One can tell the difference that Zaha's touch was there even if one was looking down from Mars or any faraway planet.
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