Zhuhai Observation Tower

In hopes of transforming its architecture to the likes of Shenzhen and Macau, the city of Zhuhai in China draws inspiration to the traditional water culture of the riverside district of Doumen – none other than a fish preparing to launch in mid-air.

Designed by Shenzhen-based studio RMJM, the Zhuhai Observation Tower is a 4,563-sqm landmark tower located at the intersection of two rivers in the middle of a new promenade development in Zhuhai. Its sinuous, twisting form is derived from a combination of two natural elements – of graceful water movements and a jumping fish, the latter symbolizing the city’s rapid prosperity and transformation.

The building itself is around 100 meters tall, featuring a smoothly ascending skin with a slightly inflated central portion for more internal space. It was then concluded with a twisting yet symmetrical configuration, allowing the form to face the town center while still catering to the needs of its multi-angular and omnidirectional vista.

Instead of using the existing plaza area, the podium made room for various landscape elements and physical elements – allowing the skyscraper to be one with the urban context. The entire tower is divided into three typologies, offering a variety of spatial amenities and experiences on each floor. Retail spaces such as cafes and restaurants populate in the ground level podium. Visitor experience spaces such as a recreational or media platform punctuated its protruding middle floors, whereas its topmost floor features a 360-degree panoramic observation facility wrapped in glass panels.

A parametric modeling system allowed for the development of its ambitious form made up of 12 two-dimensional curves forming the building’s silhouette. Its outer skin is made from 1,400 bent panels of perforated aluminum sailing on two sides through five fixation points on its sub-frame structure – mimicking the seemingly endless scales of a shimmering fish. Aside from forming the signature look of the tower, these panels also serve as sun shading and pollution-filtering devices where natural daylight is patterned throughout the day, while embedded LED backlights illuminate the tower at night.

Its adaptation of a bionic concept allowed the building to be one with nature while highlighting the technique and symbolism behind its form. With a forward-thinking vision and a thoughtful consideration of the countless human and nature interactions it can get ahold of, the Zhuhai Observation Tower is one step closer to achieving an architecturally-glitzy skyline guided by its stretching waters.