The Chuangxiang Building of China Merchants Network Valley is located in China Merchants Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, in the area along the mountain road. It is the first new industrial land (M0) to be implemented in the renovation project of the region, aiming to reshape this area into a comprehensive new generation of network valley industrial park integrating office, apartment, commercial and community supporting functions, highlighting the new vision of China Merchants Shekou in urban renewal and industrial upgrading.

Green and low-carbon,ecological intergration

In the exterior design of the Chuangxiang Building in China Merchants Network Valley, architectural creation and urban spirit have achieved a deep integration. The Forcitis team adheres to a rigorous and professional attitude, carefully selects materials, accurately grasps scales, and meticulously studies node structures, committed to creating a unique urban life form.

Since the early stages of the conceptual design, the Forcitis team has had more than 30 communications and reports with the client and the design company, fully understanding the architect's design intentions. Through in-depth research on curtain wall systems that are suitable for the characteristics of the exterior facade, the team provided a detailed scheme comparison document and ultimately determined the selection of system materials and connection forms, ensuring that the design scheme meets both aesthetic requirements and functionality.

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The China Merchants Network Valley Creative Enjoyment Building adopts a vertically visible and horizontally hidden double silver LoW-E insulated glass curtain wall, providing efficient thermal and sound insulation performance. It is decorated with artistic perforated aluminum panels and aluminum veneers, and the supporting structure is composed of specially treated aluminum alloy profiles and steel pendant systems, ensuring the durability and aesthetics of the building.

The CMB Wanggu Chuangxiang Building features an innovative style of "technology + culture",with its exterior emphasizing not only aesthetic vaule but also functionality and environment performance.

▲ Template confirmation process

The project tower adopts a frame style curtain wall building. Although there are not many types of curtain wall systems and the materials are relatively simple, the sample determination process went through 4-5 rounds before selecting the ideal color materials, ensuring the uniformity and aesthetics of the building's appearance while providing efficient ventilation.

Through the design and construction of remote VMU (Visual Mock Up) samples, constantly reflect on and summarize the problems that arise during the process, explore, renovate, and improve the process methods.

▲ Realistic picture of remote model

At the stage before the large-scale installation of the curtain wall, the construction and testing of the solid VMU sample are carried out again to ensure that every detail meets the high standard requirements. We conducted over 20 on-site inspections and cooperated with on-site problem-solving to ensure the smooth progress of the project.

▲ Realistic image of physical sample

▲ Change of Perspective

Through the rigorous sample confirmation process mentioned above, the ideal architectural effect and economic value of the project are ultimately presented perfectly.

In the process of scheme design and specific implementation, the Forcitis team is committed to achieving the functional requirements of the building and the effectiveness of the design scheme. Faced with various challenges, the team actively seeks solutions to ensure that the exterior facade of the building meets the expected visual effect, while the interior space also meets the ideal design standards.

To maintain the integrity and aesthetics of the exterior facade, Wanggu Chuangxiang Building adopts a design scheme of hidden opening fans. There is no visible opening fan on the exterior facade, ensuring the cleanliness and aesthetics of the large glass surface.

▲ Node diagram

▲ Hidden hinges

The ventilation requirement is met by setting internal opening fans on the inside of perforated aluminum panels, which not only does not affect the consistency of the building appearance, but also ensures good indoor ventilation effect. In addition, the indoor side of the opening fan adopts a hidden hinge design, which achieves a clean and simple indoor effect when closed.

The perforated aluminum plate adopts long rectangular holes in a triangular inclined shape, which is highly artistic and modern. There is no fine division, and the effect is upright and exquisite. It not only enhances the modernity and artistic atmosphere of the building, but also cleverly solves the dual needs of functionality and aesthetics. The combination of elongated holes and triangular sloping shapes endows the building with a unique visual rhythm.

The edges are treated with profile finishing, which not only enhances the upright effect of the facade, but also effectively hides the glue joints, reduces visual interference, and makes the overall effect more harmonious and unified.

The facade floodlights adopt groove hidden installation and linear lights arranged at intervals to enhance the fashionable architectural art expression of building technology. The lighting fixtures are hidden in vertical gaps and arranged in a staggered manner, which not only meets the night scene effect but also does not affect the presentation of the facade effect during the day.

Large floor to ceiling glass windows, ventilated windows, horizontal window guardrails, etc. create a transparent and bright indoor environment, with a wide and good landscape view. The exterior facade adopts insulated glass, and horizontal bars are installed on the indoor side to ensure safety protection while ensuring a transparent indoor and outdoor facade effect.

Faced with the problems of achieving ideal results without using a unit curtain wall system and ensuring seamless exterior facades, the Foster team found the best solution through various methods such as modeling analysis, remote visual sample assembly, and physical sample testing.

The exterior of this project includes a sloping surface shape and has a certain regular modulus. Although using a modular curtain wall is easier to achieve the desired effect in similar situations, due to the low height of the project and the relatively simple system, a frame style curtain wall construction was ultimately chosen. However, multiple challenges were identified during the later stage of sample construction:

Cross seam handover aesthetics: It is necessary to ensure that all gaps are horizontal and vertical, and maintain the overall aesthetic of the exterior facade.

Uniformity of light and shadow: It is necessary to ensure that the light and shadow effects of horizontal and vertical seams are consistent, and to avoid the occurrence of broken seams on inclined surfaces.

Space requirements for lamp installation: The seam depth should be consistent to meet the requirements of lamp installation.

Cost limitation: When solving the above problems, cost control also needs to be considered.

The biggest problem among them is the uneven light and shadow between the horizontal and vertical seams (as shown in the figure below), especially the visual effect similar to a broken seam appearing on the slope, which seriously affects the integrity of the building's appearance.

▲ Detail

By assembling visual samples from different locations, the Foster team discovered these issues. After multiple attempts and discussions (such as adjusting gap positions, changing lighting ranges, adding decorative clips, etc.), these solutions were rejected due to poor results or high costs.

▲ Detail

Finally, through modeling analysis, it was found that the method of partially concave on one side and shielding with perforated aluminum plates can solve the problem of light and shadow gaps to the greatest extent while minimizing costs. Subsequently, the feasibility of the method was confirmed through physical templates, and the ideal architectural effect was ultimately achieved.

▲ Detail

It is a great challenge to ensure that there is only one adhesive joint on the facade without affecting the installation sequence and exterior effect, and that the adhesive joint is not visible on the indoor side.

If the glass is installed first and then the aluminum plate is installed, and glue is applied at the junction of the aluminum plate edge and the glass, although it solves the overall problem of the exterior facade, it will cause gaps in the waterproof sealing line, increase the risk of water leakage, and make it inconvenient to replace the glass later.

▲ Detail

By optimizing the profile design and closing process, the screws are ensured not to be exposed, effectively solving the problems of glue leakage, nail leakage, and seam leakage. This method not only perfectly avoids the problem of multiple adhesive seams and joints, but also facilitates glass disassembly. In addition, it is only necessary to pay attention to keeping the color of the aluminum alloy lines consistent with the perforated aluminum plate, and the final completed effect fully conforms to the design intention, without any significant color difference.

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Enjoyment Building is not only a bold attempt in architectural design, but also a new exploration of future work and lifestyle. It will continue to drive the process of urban renewal and provide people with a more comfortable and efficient working environment.

As a rebirth of the former industrial factory, Wanggu Chuangxiang Building carries the important historical significance of the Shekou area in the process of Shenzhen's reform and opening up. With the rise of new buildings, it has become a new landmark of the "Internet and Technology Innovation Center" in this city. In the future, Foster will continue to uphold its original intention, work together, forge ahead, provide outstanding value to customers, and contribute more wisdom to shaping the beauty of the city.