Sliced Porosity Block - CapitaLand Raffles City Chengdu

Sliced Porosity Block - CapitaLand Raffles City Chengdu is a building complex built in Chengdu, China designed by Steven Holl Architects. It was built from 2008 to 2012. It celebrated its topping out in October 2011 at 123 meters.

Sliced Porosity Block
General information
LocationChengdu, China
Construction started2008
Completed2012
Opening2012
Technical details
Floor area3,336,812 sf
Design and construction
Architect(s)Steven Holl Architects
Structural engineerChina Academy of Building Research

Sliced Porosity Block consists of 5 mixed-use towers with offices, apartments, retail and a hotel, which surround a large public plaza. The design is shaped to give the surrounding residential neighborhood enough daylight during the day. The angles of the sun prescribe the shape of the towers. The structure is an exoskeletal concrete frame.

Pavilions edit

Three large voids are cut into the towers as the sites of the History Pavilion, designed by Steven Holl Architects, the Light Pavilion by Lebbeus Woods, and the Local Art Pavilion.

The History Pavilion marks the site of the original Sichuan Provincial Museum in 1941. Set into a void in north elevation it overlooks the plaza of the three valleys and pools.

Sustainable Aspects edit

The Sliced Porosity Block is heated and cooled with 468 geothermal wells and the large ponds in the plaza harvest recycled rainwater, while the natural grasses and lily pads create a natural cooling effect.

Awards edit

  • AIA NY Merit Award, USA, 2013
  • Architizer A+ Award Jury Winner, USA, 2013