Modern design harks back to historic way of living

Unlike the hustle and bustle of contemporary Shanghai, the centuries-old back street communities of the city reflect a slower pace of life. The historic laneways - or Lilong as they’re locally known - are characterised by vivid red and beige bricks, with an abundance of potted plants that climb, cascade and thrive on every surface.

And it's from these neighbourhood laneways that the team behind The Roof project in Shanghai took their design cues from. Stephen Buckle, Shanghai Studio Director, ASPECT Studios explained, “As a local resident living within the traditional backstreets a block away from the site, I hold a special connection to this place, culture and community; it’s an honour to have the opportunity to work on this site and help envision the place for future generations.”

Elevated view from the centre looking south. Photo courtesy of ASPECT Studios

ASPECT was part of the collaborative team behind the lifestyle and retail destination, appointed to deliver the architectural landscape and living facade of the Jean Nouvel-designed building. Buckle says appreciating the site's context, culture and community played a vital role in successfully realising the vision of the project.

Shanghai is one of the most iconic, modern, fast paced, and densely populated cities in the world. However, the historic 100-year-old laneways provide a completely different experience where there is much to explore and admire; one that is quintessential to the soul of Shanghai hosting its own characteristics, pace of life, community, and culture.

Biophilic spaces provide a human connection to nature. Photo courtesy of ASPECT Studios

The project is defined by its bold architecture and living façades, sky decks and sky gardens, with plants everywhere, at all heights and depths. Flowers, shrubs, trees, and draping flora form an extraordinary visual and spatial display. The whole place resonates with the feeling of nature and fresh air, adding a special charm to the city and neighbourhood.

Buckle says the idea of reflecting the DNA of Lilong has been layered into the design and decision process at each opportunity, to form a place “full of diverse forms of social life allowing people to co-exist and connect with nature on multiple levels.”

Exterior view from the south east corner of The Roof. Photo courtesy of ASPECT Studios

Increasing biodiversity in a dense urban setting was crucial in informing the chosen plant species, whilst also considering the creation of a year-round display of changing natural colours, tones, and greenery.

Across the project there is a total of ten façades, which house horizontal arrangements and clusters of planting.

Each cluster is a collection of curated species suitable to its climate conditions. The clusters create an ever- changing seasonal display from the atrium to the outer façades. The façade integrations have strongly encouraged wildlife and pollinators into the heart of a dense urban environment, which creates a harmonious place for people and nature, Buckle says. 

At the top of the building there are two roof gardens with gathering spaces which are planted with trees that open out to the sky, creating a shared terrace that offers an open view to the urban skyline. Sky decks on selected floors provide immersive, cool spaces to walk in nature and appreciate the diverse forms of life.

An aerial view of the project. Photo courtesy of ASPECT Studios

To create the façade design, the collaborative team conducted a critical analysis to determine various climate conditions of each elevation to curate suitable, resilient, and aesthetically pleasing planting palettes to achieve the highest sustainable outcomes.

The team collected data on solar, wind, sun, and other micro-climate related factors that cover both the building and surroundings. This data was digitally analysed in depth using the latest micro climatic modelling tools. It was then used to inform the detailed selection of plant species suitable for the exact conditions of each facade pot, its orientation, elevation, and pot size.

“It was important that the design was more than a simple visual display of generic greenery and planting, instead it was an opportunity to show ‘what could be’ within the cities of tomorrow,” Buckle said. “To create a place, experience and environment that added balanced value to people and nature.

A range of the planters used in the project. Photo courtesy of ASPECT Studios

“The resulting design is a bold and unique response to culture, climate, and context, whilst realising a biophilic and biodiverse environment that responds to the needs of the cities people, a place to meet, work, relax and socialize and be embraced by inspiring qualities of nature in an urban environment.”

The Roof’s planting is specifically positioned to ensure it is viewed from inside, allowing each office worker to enjoy a unique environment engrossed in nature and greenery. When human senses are stimulated in a way nature intended, the benefits to psychological wellbeing, among many others prevail, Buckle says. 

This connection is especially important in the workplace where the incorporation of green space, natural light and plants are proven to help with individual health and wellbeing, ensuring better employee satisfaction, office productivity, and greater levels of creativity, motivation, and efficiency.

The Roof picked up an Outstanding Award in the Built projects category of the 2021 IFLA Asia-Pacific Region Landscape Architecture Awards.