As a part of Doumen’s river front improvement project, RMJM designed a new landmark tower at the intersection of two rivers in the centre of the new promenade development in Zhuhai.

The building itself is about 100 m high and will become an iconic symbol for the local environment. The design is inspired by the unique traditional water culture of the riverside district of Doumen. The origin of the initial idea stemmed from the movement of the river currents and a ‘fish leaping from the water’. The fish jumping gesture symbolizes the prosperity and rapid transformation of the city.

For the integration of the tower in the urban promenade concept, the proposal avoids using too much of the plaza area, and leaves the most space for landscape design elements and recreational activities for the public. Moreover there will be cafes and restaurants on the ground floor of the tower-podium to activate the plaza square.

The tower itself is divided into three parts: the ground podium, the experience section situated in the mid-levels of the tower with observation facilities on the top level. The podium will contain a lobby for the elevator entrance, different restaurants, cafes and two small shops.

The area covers about 2000 m² of ground space. A staircase connects the podium with the observation facility and is attached to the outer side of the core. The top floor is intended as an observation deck, providing a 360-degree breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape.

Parametric design modelling tools were used to generate the shape of the tower. The main structure of the tower consists of twelve two-dimensional curves, divided in a second step for the subframe. The sub-frame serves as the holding for the 1400 panels, which will create the iconic ‘fish-scale’ appearance of the tower. Moreover, the panels will provide sun protection for the mid-levels and create an interesting light situation inside the building.

Sector: Commercial

Size: 4,563 m²

Status: Under Construction