Apartment Building in South Station | Xu und Partner

Apartment Building in South Station

Location: China, Shanghai

Area: 17.000 sqm

Year: 2017

Client: Bright Food Group Shanghai

Architect: xup  Architekten

Team: Shan Xu, Jing Xue, Zhihu Pan, Xinxin Ji, Jingdong Zhang, Yifan Zhao

Type: architectural design, conversion and reconstruction

The site is located on northeastern side of Shanghai South Station, where used to be a wares railway station for Bright Food (Group) Co.,Ltd. An old delivery platform still remains on site. An original railway track and the present light rail track confine the site, forming a longish island, on which dormitory apartments for young employees will be built. 

The scheme emphasized the idea of an island, compiling building complexes together to be demonstrative so that a new community is towering in a way to be recognized from every aspect. Double-layered facades are excellent for sound insulation and the perforated aluminum boards strengthen the sculptural image of the building, defining the interior character of the community.    

The layout borrowed the module of panel flat which was popular in the last century, arranging three rows of apartment buildings which meet the requirements on comprehensive spacing and land use rate. Corresponding with the site boundaries, the flat rows have a curvilinear outline and indoor flowing routes. Continuously rising skylines superimpose over one another, emphasizing the visual effect of the curvilinear form. Finally, the economical and practical panel flats become an impressive and unique work despite of site limits.

Thanks to the height of northern building, its ground floor is hollowed, in which the old wares delivery platform is completely kept, where public service functions such as small shops and barber’s are located. Here will become a lively communal space for all residents.