SOM209

International Finance Sguare

Design/Completion 1993/1996 Guangzhou Tianhe, China

China Entertainment & Land lnvestment Holdings Ltd 4,500,000 square feet Steel frame Granite, glass, metal

Located in the hcart of Guangzhou, the tower is the centerpiece of the rapidly devcloping Tianhe section. The placement of the complex, on an axis with railway and mass transit stations and the Tianhe Sports Center Coliseum, integrates the old city district to the west, the high-technology development zonę to the east, and the residcntial district to the south.

Clad in warm vermilion granite with silver metal mullions, the building soars to over 100 stories, its facade modulated by setbacks that distinguish the base from the shaft. Its octagonal plan is a traditional Chinese symbol of good fortunę.

A 22-story central atrium brings natural light to the residential units on the top floors of the tower. The extended 12-story base and adjacent buildings include ofFice space, a 900,000 square foot retail mail, and a 500-room hotel.

The sculptural crown shines during the day and is illuminated at night, creating a beacon on Guangzhou’s skyline.

1    Ground-floor plan

2    Section through hotel and tower looking west

3    Model: vicw from north-cast

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