Hangzhou was the capital of China in the 12th and 13th centuries and is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in China. The one block city site is close by the scenic West Lake, which is surrounded by lakeside temples and historic landmarks. China applied in 1996 for the West Lake scenic area to be listed as a Unesco World Heritage site.
The program calls for mixed use commercial stores at lower floors, with offices at center and private residence penthouses at top. The design took inspiration from the Chinese traditional mountain landscape painting typology, where a series of geometric mountain massing invite the viewers to explore, engage, & discover the hidden spatial surprises. The tower's angular landscaped base serves as an elevated urban park, from which one can traverse surrounded with the mountain like office building blocks, as well as appreciating the elegant vista of West Lake beyond.