News

An “architectural forest” of 32 trees in Shanghai, designed by Koichi Takada Architects, has been built to serve as an evolving retail space and a symbol of a future that returns nature to our cities.

Situated 20km southwest of Shanghai, on a site that only four decades ago was densely forested, Solar Trees Marketplace is the first step in returning green to greater Shanghai and mitigating the effects of urban sprawl. The launch of Phase I introduces conversations around the importance of agile and adaptable architecture in achieving a sustainable future.

Solar Trees Marketplace is designed for longevity. Planned to adapt and remain relevant as the needs of its owners change over time. Phase I, now open, sees Solar Trees Marketplace as a state-of-the-art, immersive sales and display suite for the adjacent 155,000m² residential masterplan development, which Koichi Takada Architects have also designed.

When the residents move into the neighborhood, this extraordinary structure will evolve into a vibrant marketplace—reflecting the vision of Koichi Takada Architects and developers Tian An to revive the role of traditional Chinese marketplaces in a contemporary way. The ingrained flexibility of Solar Trees Marketplace allows for simple transformation to ensure it remains relevant in an ever-changing, unpredictable future.

Read the full article here.