Chocolate frogs have once again been handed out at Denmark's largest architectural practice, Arkitema. We have landed two major construction projects in China: an entirely new 722,000 m² residential area and a 70,000 m² administration block for CNOOC, China largest oil company.
New urban district in Changsha
Arkitema has a tradition of handing out chocolate frogs to all its staff whenever an architectural competition is won, and here in November the frogs have been fairly hopping around on the desks. First of all, it was announced that Arkitema was to design a new administration block for China's largest oil development company, CNOOC. Then a contract was signed for the establishment of a 722,000 m² large residential area with sports and cultural facilities in Changsha, southern China.
Right now, modern China is experiencing the same kind of massive migration from countryside to city that Europe experienced during industrialisation. As a result, China has a need for new, humane, sustainable and architecturally attractive towns. Arkitema has designed an urban district in which the landscape and the location of the dwellings and housing types is designed to create a structure which will provide scope for diversity and room for plenty of happy residents.
The new urban district will stretch in two belts across the undulating landscape: a northern area with three different types of exclusive detached houses will be linked to a southern area via a blue park with small lakes and recreational areas. Towards the south lies a green park with tower block housing in up to 18 storeys, with associated sports and cultural facilities.
Natural light for all offices
The CNOOC administration block will be built in an existing coffee and tea warehouse. Amongst other reasons, Arkitema's proposal won because it was faithful to the original building, with its large, distinctive columns. Another important element was access to light.
"As a Scandinavian architectural practice, light is always present and very important in our architectural design – but for most Chinese employees, access to light is far from being a matter of course. However, in Arkitema's CNOOC building, access to daylight is guaranteed. All of the office workplaces will have both good light and views," says partner Bendt Almvig.
Office in Beijing
With two won competitions, construction projects on the way and more competitions awaiting decisions, Arkitema's investment in China has really borne fruit. The Arkitema office in Beijing now has four employees, but during December the staff will be tripled to cope with the large demand.
For more information, contact partner and responsible manager for Arkitema in China, Bendt Almvig, e-mail: bal@arkitema.dk, mobile +45 40184355
Data
Official title: New urban district in Changsha
Address: Han Pu Science Park, Changsha, Hunan Province
Category: Residential area with sports and cultural facilities
Size: 722,000 m²
Awards: 1st prize
Construction: 2008-2010
Client: Changsha Nanshan Development Co. Ltd
Other partners: China BCEL
Official title: CNOOC
Address: Linkong Economic Park, Changing District, Shanghai
Category: Administration block
Size: 70,000 m² (50,000 m² office and 20,000 m² parking)
Awards: 1st prize
Construction: 2008-2009
Client: CNOOC
Other partners: China BCEL