The growing Raffles City Chongqing complex boasts several firsts for China and the world. It’s crowning glory, a 300m “horizontal skyscraper,” set atop the tall, residential and commercial towers, is certainly among the biggest talking points. So much so, that the hoisting of its first section was televised live on prime-time Chinese television. The complex, consisting of eight towers, four of which are joined by the accordion-shaped upper conservatory area, and a lower podium featuring six floors of retail space and a transport hub, comprises a total of 1.12 million square meters. The upper skybridge is the world’s highest and links the world’s greatest number of towers besides offering a unique community space.
Horizontal Skybridge, Called Conservatory, Soon The Highest Skybridge in The World
Construction of the new urban complex takes five years, but the structure is not only impressive from the inside. The curving façade represents a tribute to the sailing boats that plied the Yangtze River and Jialing River, and the two rivers converge at the site of the waterfront property chosen for the Raffles City Chongqing complex. With such a setting, it was natural to make the most of the potential for magnificent views over the city and the water, and the upper conservatory offers the ability for 360-degree enjoyment of the panorama.
Singapore-based CapitaLand Limited, the company responsible for the construction of Raffles City Chongqing, says that the structure and its horizontal skyscraper conservatory mark a global milestone in construction and structural engineering. The building has certainly received accolades on all fronts, specifically with regard to its livability, connectivity, and sustainability. Raffles City’s designers, Safdie Architects, thoroughly studied the significance of the site to Chongqing before embarking on a design concept that strove to reflect the city’s aspirations while meeting the needs of its people.
