Shanghai’s “tree-covered mountains” are coming to life as evidenced in #donotsettle project’s latest video. Architects Wahyu Pratomo and Kris Provoost used a DJI Mavic Pro drone to sneak a peek into the construction progress of the Heatherwick Studio-designed project for M50, the city’s contemporary art district. The six-hectare plot will feature staggered, mountain-like volumes enveloped by 1,000 trees.
Par for the course for Shanghai’s futuristic cityscape, this unusual 330,000-square-meter mixed-use development will comprise housing, offices, retail, a hotel, and a school. As seen in the drone footage, trees have already been installed on the undulating building’s columnar planters. The planting will help soften the appearance of the concrete volume once they mature.
Related: Heatherwick Studio wants to build a tree-covered mountain in the middle of Shanghai
“Conceived not as a building but as a piece of topography, the design takes the form of two tree-covered mountains, populated by approximately one thousand structural columns,” said Heatherwick Studio. “Instead of being hidden behind the facade, the columns are the defining feature of the design, emerging from the building to support plants and trees.” The development is slated to open in 2018.
Via ArchDaily
Images via #donotsettle
