Ningbo Sails
Ningbo Sails
Ningbo Sails transforms a complex site into a human-centered, sustainable, and maritime-inspired urban landmark. When designing for large masterplan projects, like the 400,000 squaremeter business, exhibition, and trade landmark for the city Ningbo, Superimpose designs with the responsibility to making them human-centered, pedestrian friendly, well-connected, green and sustainable. The ‘Ningbo Sails’ by Superimpose was awarded second place in an invited tender with eleven invited high-caliber contestants. The unique feature of the design is a pedestrian friendly, accessible, vibrant and green ground floor, created by situating all motorized vehicle circulation and tower lobbies on the second floor. This strategy coexists with a smart retail strategy, efficient tower location at the periphery of the site and a well-considered position of the conference center.
01/25
Ningbo Sails
Ningbo Sails transforms a complex site into a human-centered, sustainable, and maritime-inspired urban landmark. When designing for large masterplan projects, like the 400,000 squaremeter business, exhibition, and trade landmark for the city Ningbo, Superimpose designs with the responsibility to making them human-centered, pedestrian friendly, well-connected, green and sustainable. The ‘Ningbo Sails’ by Superimpose was awarded second place in an invited tender with eleven invited high-caliber contestants. The unique feature of the design is a pedestrian friendly, accessible, vibrant and green ground floor, created by situating all motorized vehicle circulation and tower lobbies on the second floor. This strategy coexists with a smart retail strategy, efficient tower location at the periphery of the site and a well-considered position of the conference center.
Inside the pleasant and well-shaded courtyard, which is the heart of the development, one can clearly notice the concept of the ‘3 ground floors’. Dueto large floor opening, the basement, ground floor and second floor all feel like the ground floor. Superimpose recognized the importance of fitting this project within the larger city-scale masterplan and provided functions at all 4 sides that form programmatic relation to the adjacent sites. Bridges are being used to enhance those relations.
The project is called ‘Ningbo Sails’ referring to Ningbo’s maritime past and present. Ningbo is known to be one of China’s most important trading cities and is amongst the busiest ports in the world. From ancient times the rivers and sea near Ningbo were filled with typical Chinese sailing boats. These sailing boats were usedas a source of inspiration for the project. The towers are situated as‘sails’ on an elevated deck of retail whereas the new conference center carries a white curved screen façade reminiscent of the sails of these Chinese sailing boats. Together, the strategies described above create a strong and sustainable approach to complex and important sites, with a versatile mix of functions. Superimpose will cherish the outcome of this process and polish the strategies further for upcoming projects.