Fosun Foundation: A Steel Bamboo Veiled Gem In Shanghai

Two top brasses in British contemporary architecture, Foster + Partners and Heatherwick Studio, create a majestic cultural project under Fosun Foundation. The highlight of this architectural piece is the form-shifting facade made of bronze-colored steel bamboo. This one-of-a-kind three-layered steel veil slowly rotates and then reveals different parts of the building including a golden balcony. The bronze steel pipes mingle with the music for a certain time in the day. This striking detail proposes to infuse the East and West. It alludes to the traditional Chinese crown and a western harp while the open stages of the traditional Chinese theatre influence the structure’s floor design.

“The concept is inspired by China’s ambition not to duplicate what exists in the rest of the world, but to look instead for new ways to connect with China’s phenomenal architectural and landscape heritage.”

-Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio

The Fosun Foundation’s multi-use building has four floors and a three-level basement. The entrance boasts an atrium, a lobby, and a cafe. Each level has a distinct interior. The higher floors host international conferences, performances, forums, art exhibitions, and cultural acts. The basement levels house auditoriums and a series of white corridors that connects to the adjacent compound.

Bund Finance Center is the urban complex that holds the building. It is a 420,000 square meter multipurpose compound that aims to enliven Shanghai’s waterfront. It has 8 buildings that provide space for offices, retail spaces, restaurants, a boutique hotel, and a cultural center. Moreover, the area around the Bund Finance Center emerges as a destination for Beijing’s art scene. With support from the Shanghai government, this waterfront district could emerge as a culture and arts sector.

Photo Credits: Laurian Ghinitoiu