XAA Janson Xian Architect+Associates: Winner of World Design Awards 2024. As a key component of the core area within Foshan’s First Ring Innovation Circle, Leju United Center aims to become an internationally influential and attractive hub for technological innovation, creating a new landmark for commercial and office spaces in the Greater Bay Area.

01 Diagonal Twin-Tower Layout: Shaping a Landmark Gateway

The project is in the center of Foshan’s First Ring Innovation Circle, adjacent to the city’s main roads, with Guangzhou-Foshan Jiangzhu Expressway to the west and Foping Third Road to the south, offering convenient transportation. However, the site is limited to a height of 120 meters, with the east side being heavily obstructed by existing buildings.

Considering the landscape views and the urban interface, after multiple rounds of discussion and design iteration, the architects adopted a diagonal “twin-tower” layout. The towers are positioned at the northeast and southwest corners of the site, allowing each tower to enjoy unobstructed views while creating a visual corridor and spatial composition that harmonizes with the surrounding environment.

The two towers are strategically set back from the eastern buildings and the western expressway to minimize the impact of the surroundings, ensuring good ventilation and natural lighting, while maximizing the office buildings’ exposure to the city.

Architecturally, the design breaks away from conventional approaches, using curved, layered terraces to naturally form a “U” shape, enhancing the building’s verticality and creating a striking image that redefines the city skyline and establishes a memorable first impression along the main thoroughfare.

02 Multi-level Courtyard Spaces: Blending Lingnan Essence

Leju United Center focuses on multifunctional spaces, with the two towers serving as the headquarters and multifunctional office spaces. The layered terrace design creates multi-level courtyard spaces, bringing nature and ecology into the business environment, enhancing and expanding the spatial experience.

The base of the towers is connected by a podium, forming a public and open commercial space that integrates with the urban interface, accommodating diverse urban life and revitalizing the city. The podium’s eastern side is elevated on the ground floor to alleviate the oppressive feeling caused by surrounding buildings and to reduce the perception of urban congestion.

The elevated ground floor is supported by three V-shaped columns, creating a distinctive “grey space” that emphasizes spatial sharpness. The massive V-shaped columns and structural framework work together to form a vibrant, open courtyard space. The open space and unique geometric elements create a strong visual impact, encouraging interaction between people and the environment.

The V-shaped columns are clad in stainless steel, meticulously cut and polished. Reflections from the lighting and water extend the space significantly, creating an unpredictable and futuristic atmosphere.

The enclosed space also features a sunken courtyard with strong Lingnan characteristics, breaking the sense of emptiness and visual monotony. The sunken courtyard connects various commercial scenarios, providing a diverse, multi-functional venue for public activities. It also accommodates Lingnan’s climatic conditions, promoting natural airflow and preventing ground moisture from penetrating the building, achieving a harmonious vision of green ecology and industrial architecture.

03 Green and Sustainable Office Headquarters

The building’s facade features vertical aluminum slats with varying widths, creating a rhythmic appearance that makes the structure appear taller and more majestic. Depending on the time of day and light conditions, the vertical slats generate dynamic light and shadow effects, enhancing the building’s aesthetic appeal.
The headquarters lobby, suspended 65 meters above ground, features a cantilevered glass box that contrasts sharply with the vertical lines of the facade, contributing to the building’s unique architectural language and showcasing the company’s distinct corporate culture.

In line with sustainability and energy efficiency goals, the building’s facade is clad in a full low-emissivity glass curtain wall. The outer glass layer effectively reduces UV radiation, while the inner glass provides superior insulation, reducing heat transfer and lighting energy consumption. This not only enriches the facade but also meets natural lighting and energy-saving requirements, significantly lowering the building’s energy consumption.

Project Details:-
Firm
XAA Janson Xian Architect+Associates

Architect
JANSON XIAN

Project Name
Leju United Center

Project Category
Office Building Built

Team
Xian Jianxiong ，Lin Yuming, Xu Yong, Xu Kewei，Li Guoliang，Tang Yicong, Zou Manyu，LiangMinquan，Ren wei

Project Location
Foshan, Guangdong Province, China

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
XAA Janson Xian Architect+Associates

About XAA Janson Xian Architect + Associates

XAA Janson Xian Architect + Associates founded by architect Mr. Xian Jianxiong, has been following the people-oriented design principle for many years,concentrating on the balance of function and aesthetics of architecture, and devoting itself to providing high-quality comprehensive architectural design services for the city.

Holding Class A qualification as an architectural design firm,XAA has won nearly 300 prestigious design awards and has accumulated rich design service experience on projects catering to the needs of the public, such as large residential neighborhoods,offices, commerce, culture, education, etc. With the core value of “Building for Better”, XAA has over the years maintained high standards and recruited qualified talents.

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