Solar Trees Marketplace is a contemporary take on a traditional Chinese marketplace planned for Shanghai’s Minhang district. Designed by Koichi Takada Architects, the development will include 32 artificial trees that provide a shady canopy for market activities. This biophilic project will celebrate local culture while attempting to provide a shared community space. It also prepares for a more sustainable way of city living by using design elements like solar energy and passive cooling.
“We want to humanize buildings in the district, to be more engaging to the public and contribute to the regeneration of communities and their neighborhoods,” explains Koichi Takada. “We want architecture to celebrate cultural identity, along with encouraging pedestrian activities and a more walkable and livable city.”