Oct Tower Shenzhen

Studio Link-Arc’s proposal for the OCT Tower originated from a detailed review of the site. Adjacent to an existing office building, a sculpture park, and a major thoroughfare, the design needed to reconcile many different conditions. SLA decided to avoid typical urban development models, opting for a new approach. Link-Arc’s scheme for OCT seamlessly integrates architecture, landscape, and urbanism, creating a contemporary public space for residents, visitors, and workers. The first design move was to lift the tower from its podium. This allows daylight to reach deep into the commercial spaces and creates more public space at grade. The roof of the podium is then articulated as a public landscape and is extended across the site in order to connect to the existing plaza at the east of the site, create a generous entry area, and to create a narrower building depth that would promote natural lighting. This landscaped roof provides a new outdoor garden and sculpture space for visitors, residents, and office workers. Locating the atop this landscaped roof, enlivens the park and creates a ceremonial entrance to the tower above. Adding gardens to the south façade allows the park to extend vertically into the tower, adding amenities for the office workers. These gardens create shaded spaces in the summer and are passively warmed in the winter, enhancing user comfort and enhancing the building’s environmental response. The tower is punctuated by a series of sky lobbies, creating extensive outdoor areas for social activity. The depth of the floor plate reduces as the floors rise, allowing natural light to penetrate deeply into tower while allowing for panoramic views. A shaded southern façade improves energy efficiency and increases user comfort. The top of the building includes a clubhouse that incorporates a restaurant and a lounge, as well as an interior garden.