gmp von Gécom, Marg & Partners Architects has won the first prize in the International Architectural Design Competition to design its new headquarters building for Xiamen International Bank. This is also another large financial institution headquarters project designed by GMP after Deutsche Bank, Dresden Bank, Bank of Ningbo, China UnionPay and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Xiamen International Bank's new headquarters building is located on the main island of Xiamen, which belongs to the cross-strait financial center plate and high-end business office area, and is a landmark building on the seafront. The project is an important node in the urban super high-rise sequence, and the architectural design adopts the eclectic form of the circle, and strives to take into account the seascape, the city, and the adjacent green belt, and form more dialogues with the city. Take on more urban roles externally in the overall environment, while at the same time being cohesive inward.
The building takes into account the urban relationship and is divided into three vertical blocks from low to high. The lower area of the whole building is dominated by the south direction, combined with the main entrance on the south side, the high courtyard is set up, and the atrium is facing the city park, realizing the penetration between the building itself and the urban landscape. The low area gathers active public function content, including office lobby, business hall, training center, staff canteen, conference center, and group office. The podium on the west side of the venue includes a multi-purpose hall, a lecture hall, a corporate culture exhibition hall, a city café and a VIP restaurant. The podium is made up of cylindrical volumes stacked on top of each other, interlocking and surrounded by water features.
The vertical design of the entire tower, especially the atrium layout, takes into account specific factors such as height changes and environmental orientation. The tower's central and low districts rotate in a 90-degree rotation, and the central area is functionally positioned as the headquarters office. The curved, outward-stretching large atrium runs through the east and west sides of the building, connecting Xiamen Island and the sea with a visual axis to achieve the sharing of the east-west landscape. The atrium runs through the core tube, providing plenty of light and a better office experience. As the core of vitality, the elevator hall in the middle is transparent and changeable, with vertical connections between various departments to achieve a variety of functions such as communication, reception and transportation.
The project is the tallest building in the area, with a quad-facing atrium at the top of the project, overlooking the entire island and coast. The functions of the high district are concentrated on the office of senior executives and high-end business center. By cutting inward into the building volume, the high-zone office can get more views, and the 360-degree design gives the building a broad and multi-faceted angle.
The different aerial atrium forms of the high, middle and low areas are the design focus of the tower, and also the logic of the geometric appearance of the tower. The combination of architectural design and urban environment proposes new urban relationships, and expresses a unique architectural image in a concise and powerful architectural language.
The circular solution combines the necessary functions into a compact mass, reducing surfaces and energy consumption. In terms of curtain wall systems, quality, reliability, efficiency and precision are transformed into a modern style that conforms to the style of financial architecture. The vertical lobby is set up to improve the internal thermal environment and airflow organization of the building, and increase the comfort experience. Xiamen International Bank's new headquarters building will establish a "above finance" brand image and a closely interconnected humanized working environment.
Design Competition: First Prize 2021
Design: Manhard von Gerkan and Stefan Schütz and Stefan Reuvler
Project Leaders: Yang Li, Zheng Fei, Marco Assandri
Project Team: Filippo Ragusa, Tang Zihong, Wang Chenhan, Wang Yazeng, Zhu Shiyou, Yang Peter Dem, Yuan Tao, Ma Xinyi, Zhao Zhengyang
China Project Management: Li Ling, Wang Shihui, Xie Fang
Owner: Xiamen International Bank Co., Ltd
Chinese-side co-design: Zhongyuan (Xiamen) Engineering Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd
Building area: 114,000 square meters
Building height: 210 m