Foster + Partners - construction continues apace on Euro American Innovation City in China

Above: CGI of Euro American Innovation City, Hangzhou (Courtesy Foster + Partners)

The Euro American Innovation City will be a vibrant, mixed-use development, located at the heart of the Central Business District in Hangzhou. The 346,450 square-metre project will comprise two office towers and four high-rise apartment buildings, a public plaza and an ‘IT incubator’ with a retail mall on the lower levels. A uniform podium connects the buildings with a ribbon of retail and public amenities. The first construction phase is due to complete next month, followed by the second phase at the end of the year. The full project is scheduled to complete in September 2025.

Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners, said: “We are delighted with the progress on site in Hangzhou. The EIC is an important part of the city’s wider masterplan – and will significantly increase the number of apartments, commercial, and office buildings along the landscaped axis. We look forward to seeing the rest of our scheme come to life in the forthcoming months.”

John Blythe, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, added: “The Euro American Innovation City will be a striking new addition to Hangzhou’s CBD. Its six slender towers offer spectacular views and are designed to maximise solar access and natural ventilation, creating view corridors into the development from the surrounding streets. The EIC welcomes the local community and celebrates its unique surroundings.” 

The two 200-metre-high office towers are adjacent to the Qiantang River and form a striking gateway to the complex. The development is permeable with multiple layers of access across three levels. Canopies extend outwards from the podium, indicating the various entry points to the scheme.  Sheltered drop-off zones blur the lines between inside and outside, while providing direct and convenient access to the lobbies within.

The office towers will attract international technology companies and deliver high-quality, flexible workspaces for government departments. Multi-level lobbies connect the bases of the towers, encouraging impromptu social interactions between workers. Within the towers, generous sky gardens and double-height green amenity areas provide a variety of pleasant breakout spaces.

Along Li’er Road, the south-facing high-rise apartment buildings have stepped massing, to allow more light into the development and create a dynamic skyline. The tower’s slender volumes allow for cross ventilation and increase natural light levels. Their distinctive, rounded edges set them apart from the office towers on the other side of the site. Double-height lobbies visually connect tenants with roof gardens on the upper floors. A collection of connected amenities, including a club, gym, nursery, and pool, redefine the residents’ living experience.

A landscaped, central public plaza is the focal point of the scheme. Joining the development’s offices and apartment buildings, the plaza provides a place for workers, residents, and the public to gather. It offers a natural backdrop for social gatherings and community events. Breathable green spaces are an important element of the scheme, improving physical and mental wellbeing in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ‘IT incubator’ is located on the north side of the plaza, at the top of the podium. It has been designed to attract emerging technology start-ups, with unique, landscaped terraces that can be viewed from the surrounding towers. Horizontally stacked planters evoke the dynamic form of the region’s tea plantations.

The scheme is unified by a refined palette of high-quality materials, including stainless steel, stone, terracotta, and timber.