To mark World Architecture Day and World Cities Day both celebrated in October, Benoy is proud to showcase a series of projects that capture our response to the transformation of our economies and societies. Through projects which encompass social, cultural, environmental and commercial sustainability, we demonstrate the continuing evolution of the built environment into urban spaces which are sustainable, inclusive and resilient.
Today we are featuring MOSTA Plaza located in Shanghai, China.
Benoy transforms MOSTA Plaza from a heritage site built nearly 100 years ago into a world-class urban complex, with a strong focus on F&B, in¬cluding organic food experiences, food-themed retail and a high-end boutique hotel. The site will incorporate a five-storey shopping mall, with an additional three subterranean floors linking to the original hotel.
By using the rhythm of modular control combined with traditional ceramic materials, we tried to create a unique urban texture that integrates modern business development and the long history of Shanghai, all of which are imprinted in the form of architectural expression on this street. In the design of interior space, we tried to represent rapid business innovation through a distinct spatial experience. A floating box is used to create a sense of space similar to the infinite roaming in Escher’s paintings, in order to break the increasingly homogenized commercial atrium space.
We integrated new and old to preserve the location’s heritage and contemporary architectural technology surrounding traditional Art Deco design. Aiming to both preserve the original building outline and maintain the project GFA, the design explores the site’s commercial dimensions while enhancing the wider urban fabric.
Qin Pang, Director and Head of Shanghai Studio, walks us through the vision behind the design.
