Gateway Tower

Foshan, China

The Gateway Tower, located in Foshan, China, is situated on three lots separated by streets. The sites are connected by a single building above the vehicular traffic to create an elegant and iconic shape.  As one of the criterias for the competition was an iconic gateway to the city of Foshan, the design strategy was to utilize a primitive shape that would differentiate itself from the surrounding buildings. The triangular form calls attention to itself without competing for height, typical of tower designs. 

The planning concept for the project was to treat the building like a vertical city block by creating a system of circulation that utilized double heights and atrium spaces for connectivity creating a rich overlap in spaces and program. 

To relate to the park of the adjacent site, the Gateway Tower introduces a series of sky gardens. These humanizing elements become more of a space of leisure, much like pulling a piece of the park inside the building. The overall composition becomes a design that is inviting to the urban fabric of the city as well as the spatial fabric of the building.