Studio Heatherwick’s trajectory is nearing completion in Shanghai
On ShanghaiWest Bund Waterfront, Heatherwick StudioThe track of the West Bund rises alongside the Huangpu River in a series of twisting belts, stairs, terraces and bridges beginning to be clearly visible on the horizon.
New images from architectural photographer Paul Clemence capture the public exhibition hall as it nears completion at Chinese Xuhui district of the city. First introduced by Heatherwick Studio as the cultural heart for the area’s new Financial Hub, the project sits along the Huangpu as both a public building and a riverfront marker. See previous designboom coverage here!
images © Paul Clemence
Paul Clemens photographs the western orbit
For photographer Paul Clemence, the West Bund Orbit designed by Heatherwick caused a stir as he walked through the Shanghai neighborhood. ‘The Orbit was a nice surprise when I was walking along the West Bund River,‘ he says, describing the structure as radical in design but approachable in scale. In a city so often framed by height, towers and skyline, the work draws attention by staying close to the body. Its presence comes through movement, access and invitation to climb.
THE group at Heatherwick Studio has shaped the building around a central exhibition space, wrapping it in a facade of woven ribbons that become stairs, bridges, terraces and viewing platforms. These paths allow visitors to move up and around the structure, eventually reaching a rooftop garden overlooking the river and the West Bund area. The building can be approached from all sides, turning the exterior space into a part of the visit.
Paul Clemence photographs Heatherwick Studio’s West Bund track in Shanghai
step ribbons porches and bridges
Orbit takes its cue from traditional Chinese moon bridges, with the reference being stretched in a continuous circular motion. Curved strips bend around the building, tightening and opening as they move. The windows open to reveal the exhibition spaces within, giving people on the river a glimpse of the activity inside before entering. A second gallery wraps around the main hall, adding another layer between the interior and the waterfront.
In Clemence’s photographs, this movement becomes the main theme as the structure overlaps, curves and rises towards the river. Stairs and platforms make the building feel almost habitable before it is fully opened. ‘The curved structure was a delight to photograph,‘ Clemence says, adding that he was equally drawn to its application within the region. ‘Its scale respects the frame, making it very accessible, attractive.‘
the public exhibition space is nearing completion on the West Bund waterfront
from the Seed Cathedral to the bank of the Huangpu River
The project also has particular resonance for Heatherwick Studio, as the site is directly opposite the former site of Seed Cathedral, the UK pavilion designed by the studio for the Shanghai World Expo in 2010. More than a decade later, The Orbit brings the studio to the same area of the city, this time with a permanent public building extending to the West.
Shanghai has many buildings competing for attention. The West Bund Orbit suggests a different kind of presence, one built through ramps, curves, terraces and river views. Clemence puts it simply: in a megalopolis known for high-rises, it’s impressive to see cutting-edge design work on a smaller, more attractive scale. As the building nears completion, it adds another layer to the West Bund, experienced through the staircase, the terrace, the river walk and the slow upward movement of the gaze.
the building is located along the Huangpu River in Xuhui District
woven ribbons form stairs, bridges, terraces and viewing platforms
