CAN WE AFFORD CURVED TERRACES?

// CHENGDU TIANFU SOWTWARE PARK //

MVRDV NEXT

The centrepiece of the Tianfu Software Park in Chengdu is a 150-metre-tall tower. One corner is dedicated to a full-height atrium, which is a key element for the building's climate, dealing with the hot and humid environment of Chengdu. The high contrast between the sleek glass facade and the organic stepped terraces with lush greenery prominently accentuates this feature.

One of the challenges of this atrium was the economic feasibility of the organic terraces. Trying to have a non-repetitive, natural look resulted in individual outlines for the cladding with prefabricated concrete panels. Through the application of an evolutionary algorithm, we managed to rationalize the curves and reduce the number of individual panels from approximately 400 to 40.