“1 Nanjing Road” is Foster + Partners’ first project in Qingdao, China’s eastern Shandong Province, a significant seaport and financial center. The 240-meter-high mixed-use complex features a 53-story office and residential skyscraper. The development is meticulously woven into the urban fabric and serves as a catalyst for revitalization. The project aims for three-star green building certification as well as LEED V4 and WELL V2 accreditation.
Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio, said: “We are delighted to be working on the practice’s first project in Qingdao. Our tower on Nanjing Road contains high-quality office space, a three-storey clubhouse, and luxury apartments on the upper levels. At its base, a retail podium, landscaped garden, and art gallery create a vibrant pedestrianized public realm and a new thoroughfare to the sea.”
John Blythe, Senior Partner, added: “The tower’s distinctive form responds to its scenic waterfront context, with a triangular plan that maximizes views out to sea for office workers and residents. Across the development, the use of local Shandong stone reflects the area’s natural beauty and complements the city’s material palette.”
Drop-off zones are strategically placed around the periphery of the site to create a fully pedestrianized public realm that connects the tower to its surroundings and the local port. On the east side of the property, a permeable plaza, art gallery, and manicured garden attract pedestrians departing the local subway station. A human-scale retail pedestal at the base of the tower is inspired by local rock formations and offers a new F&B destination in Qingdao.
The office lobby is on the second floor of the skyscraper and has direct access to two adjacent retail buildings through outdoor sky bridges. A series of shaded terraces encircle the foyer, which overlooks the public area below. This floor of the tower serves as an additional public area for the city and activates the building’s upper levels.
The offices are divided between low and high zones, each having stunning views of a nearby park and the sea. All office levels contain operable windows for natural ventilation, as well as double-height spaces on the south side of the floorplate, which improves workplace amenities and future flexibility.
A three-story clubhouse above the offices offers a variety of unique amenities to workers, residents, and club members. The clubhouse features relaxation and event areas, a triple-height space with a west-facing infinity pool, private dining rooms, and a bar with amazing nighttime views of the city.
The tower’s uppermost levels have 105 premium apartments with cantilevered balconies and totally glass corners offering 15-meter-wide panoramic views out to sea. Every room is naturally ventilated and energy-efficiently designed.
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