Caohejing Three Cubes

The 3Cubes office building designed by gmp for the Caohejing Business Park in the western part of Shanghai have now been completed. The office building complex with service functions in the basement floors has a total gross floor area of 60,000m² and consists of three cubic building volumes with different heights of between 35 m and 60 m. The gmp design places particular emphasis on the character and elegance of the ensemble. To this end, an important role is performed by the façade, which features a special design also in terms of technical detail. The white building volumes have an austere elegance and, with their vertically oriented façades, blend in with the surroundings while nevertheless – in their overall composition – contrasting with

the very heterogeneous urban ambiance. The interaction between harmony and contrast is replicated in the design of the exterior surfaces. An undulating grass landscape culminating in a hill, with trees and arch-shaped recesses, provides access to the naturally lit basement floors. The landscape stands in flowing contrast to the static cubes in a harmoniously unifying manner, while at the same time emphasizing the cool austere elegance of the building volumes.