Chongqing IFS, designed by Benoy for its architectural and interior design, has been selected as one of the new urban landmarks in Chongqing as part of the “British Designed Chongqing Landmarks” video series launched by iChongqing and the UK Consulate General in Chongqing.
Qin Pang, Director and Head of Shanghai Studio, explained in the video interview about Benoy’s involvement in the concept planning and design processes of this highly integrated and contemporary mixed-use project. The design involved integrating aesthetic value, green elements, and mass transit integration to help drive the revitalization of the city. The mall harmoniously connects the surrounding public transport and urban fabric, establishing a high-efficiency, high quality public space for the community.
Watch the video to learn the inside story and innovative concepts behind this new landmark.
Chongqing IFS
Chongqing International Finance Square (Chongqing IFS), located at the Jiangbeizui Central Business District (CBD) in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, serves as the financial hub of the region and is the largest comprehensive development project in the area. The project is a co-development by China Overseas and Hong Kong’s Wharf and marks Benoy’s third collaboration with Wharf on IFS projects, succeeding Chengdu IFS and Changsha IFS. Benoy was involved from the masterplanning phase and provided architectural and interior design services for the shopping mall. With a Gross Floor Area of 660,000 square metres, the project has a complete range of commercial facilities a high-end shopping mall spanning 110,000 square metres, five Grade A office buildings, and the inaugural skyline hotel in Jiangbeizui, Niccolo Chongqing.
Integrated projects such as IFS are designed according to the requirements of urban renewal, and serve as significant architectural contributions to enhance the vitality and quality of work and life in the area. Benoy, with nearly 80 years of expertise in this field, leveraged its extensive commercial design experience from around the world in the development of Chongqing IFS. We applied our knowledge of transit-oriented developments (TOD), exemplified by our work on Elements in Hong Kong and ION in Singapore, along with the three-dimensional urban planning concepts utilized in iAPM in Shanghai, Westfield in London and APM in Hong Kong.
The high-end shopping mall at Chongqing IFS is divided over three floors and has more than 170 stores, including over 30 exclusive brands or first stores in Chongqing. This new landmark in the city caters to luxury, fashion, and high living and serves as an ideal destination for work and leisure. With a rich offering for shopping, dining, and entertainment, visitors can indulge in a wide variety of international brands, cuisine, and activities such as a full size ice-skating rink, a speciality supermarket, a high-end cinema, and a gym and beauty parlours. This diverse range of offerings provides an international lifestyle without the need to set foot outside Chongqing.
Chongqing often presents unique construction challenges due to the natural discrepancies within this mountainous city, and the development of Chongqing IFS was no exception. The site for Chongqing IFS comprises of four independent plots, which we intended to divide using an extension of Qingyun Road. This approach results in a relatively natural separation and two distinct levels, each possessing its own characteristics. The layout concept combines dynamism and leisure, with five contemporary towers located along the perimeter of the site, forming a wide public space at the heart of the project.
The entrances to Chongqing IFS are designed in consideration of the varying elevations of the land. Tower 1 integrates Niccolo Chongqing and office spaces, whilst towers 2, 3, 5 and 6 are dedicated solely for office use. The platform areas are spacious, with green elements employed to connect the five towers and to create a park-like space at the project’s core.
The commercial podium section houses the shopping mall. The mall has a clear, single-loop design for its shopping arcade, with three expansive corridors that connect the multiple entrances throughout the complex. These horizontal and vertical connections prioritize convenience and rationality, enhancing the quality of the space and integrating the public nature of the site into the city. Despite its large volume, the mall harmoniously connects the surrounding public transport and urban fabric, establishing a high-efficiency, high quality public space for the community.
