RSHP completes 212-metre 'butterfly' tower in Shenzhen

British studio RSHP has completed Hetao Alpha, a 212-metre, 45-storey office skyscraper in Shenzhen, China, built for a construction cost of £120 million.

The tower splits into two angled wings: a 37-storey east wing and a 44-storey west wing, joined by a central concrete core and set on a mixed-use podium. Cantilevered bays extend from the core on both sides to form the wings, which together hold 70,410 square metres of office space.

"The naturally ventilated office tower features a striking butterfly layout with fully glazed east and west wings," the studio said.

Every 12 levels, mega trusses on refuge and service floors supply additional structural support.

What does the structure actually do?

The perimeter does remarkably little work. Loads run through the core, freeing the edges.

"Centred around a concrete core with suspended corner bays, the tower minimises its perimeter structure, creating slender edges and expansive double-height views, forming the distinct structural system that defines the tower's identity," said Marco Tessaro, associate at RSHP.

Curved double-height glazing at each wing's four corners frames views of the Shenzhen Bay Wetlands to the west and Hong Kong's Mai Po Wetlands to the south. Even the lifts, placed on the north and south facades of the central volume, are fully glazed for panoramic sightlines.

Louvred panels and vents built into the glazing allow natural ventilation and cut energy use. That measure helped the project earn China's 3-star Green Building Evaluation Standard, equivalent to LEED Gold.

How public is the podium?

Very. A six-level, 13,640-square-metre podium connects to the east wing and carries a roof terrace with half its space reserved for greenery. RSHP added vegetation, a feature wall and water elements to support biodiversity and, in its words, a calm spot for socialising.

"The building's natural ventilation, green rooftop spaces, and energy-efficient facade define a truly sustainable development that reduces consumption while enhancing wellbeing for both occupants and the wider community," said Wenchao Zhou, associate at RSHP.

Mega triangular trusses on the podium roof transfer the east wing's load to the central core. A viewing platform on the west wing joins the roof terrace in inviting the public to watch migrating birds, a local pastime. The podium houses sports facilities, a library, retail and a double-height arts exhibition space; a metro station sits in the basement beside a sunken retail plaza.

"Spacious, open, and welcoming, the tower and podium integrate seamlessly to form an elegant composition that maximises connectivity with the wider public realm and the park to the east," said Richard Paul, director of RSHP.

Why one building, two briefs?

RSHP says the main challenge was merging two separate briefs from different clients into one coherent identity. The site covers 11,118 square metres, with a gross floor area of 96,223 square metres; CCDI Group served as local design institute, structural, MEP, facade and landscape consultant, with China Railway Construction Engineering Group as general contractor.

The firm is busy elsewhere in China: a 186-metre mixed-use tower in central Shanghai and a Zhengzhou convention centre with 16 halls linked by a mile-long elevated walkway. Hetao Alpha suggests RSHP intends to keep building its case for structure as ornament.