Projects of scale and density can easily be overbearing and imposing, impenetrable and seeming to turn their back on the cities of which they are a part. Raffles City Chongqing, although vertically organized into a series of towers, strives to connect to the city's existing network of streets and systems. It also transforms the site podium into a network of public and open spaces. Additionally, a sky conservatory, which bridges between four towers, draws the active public life high up into the project.

Filling the site is a podium building of six above-grade stories, which houses some 220,000 sq m of retail space, as well as subway, bus, and ferry terminals. Over the podium, a public park and private residential gardens are created, with direct access from the city on the southern end of the site. Atop the podium, eight towers rise up, with six of southern towers reaching 250 m and the two northern towers topping out at 350 m. The towers are a mix of uses, comprised of residences, high end luxury residences, offices, service apartments, and hotel programs.