DATA BUNDLE

Located in the heart of Songjiang City and surrounded by a network of parks, this project benefits from a superior natural environment. Adjacent to Songjiang University City, where numerous colleges and universities converge, the area boasts a rich atmosphere of science, technology, and humanities. The design seamlessly intertwines green and intelligent elements, blending technological innovation with humanistic values. Key design considerations included shaping the urban interface, harmonizing with the natural surroundings, and highlighting the region’s technological and cultural heritage.

Site Design

By introducing a new data center and relocating the oil engine room to the northern section of the site, the park’s layout, previously undefined, becomes clearly structured. The revised spatial configuration creates an enclosure on three sides, opening the park toward the waterfront. This new design fosters interaction between the park’s interior and the surrounding natural landscape, seamlessly merging urban and ecological spaces.

Data Center Design

As a structure designed for machines rather than people, the data center does not require conventional features like windows or ventilation. The design reimagines this traditionally closed building type, transforming it into a sculptural urban feature that reduces visual isolation and fosters positive interactions with the community.

Key infrastructural elements—such as electric shafts, air shafts, and fiber optic cable conduits—are integrated into the façade, making them visible and functional components of the architectural design. These elements contribute to a dynamic, modern cityscape and establish a distinctive street presence.

The new structure harmonizes with the existing buildings through consistent design elements, including similar column spans, vertical lines, and red brick decorative strips. Deformed round tube wells introduce a contemporary language, creating round-arched façades that house rainwater pipes, air-conditioning shafts, and fiber optic cables. The setback at the first-floor level provides additional space, while the mechanical room above adds functionality.

The façade incorporates dark glazed ceramic tiles, glass tiles, and brickwork, offering rich textures during the day. At night, LED-embedded glass bricks and solar-powered linear lights illuminate the structure, making it a striking addition to Longyuan Road. The eastern façade, opening toward the waterfront, uses transparent photovoltaic panels angled for maximum solar absorption, providing power for nighttime lighting while cooling the structure with integrated greenery.

Power Center Design

The relocated oil engine room, with its substantial volume, posed challenges for the waterfront. A sculptural, curved design was implemented to minimize its visual impact and integrate it harmoniously into the landscape. The first floor houses diesel engines with air intake and exhaust louvers seamlessly embedded in the façade, while the second floor serves as an electrical distribution room connected by internal staircases. The light-colored corrugated ceramic panels used in the façade are environmentally friendly and recyclable.

At night, solar-powered LED lights illuminate the structure, transforming it into a beacon along the riverbank.

Sustainable Technology

The project incorporates advanced sustainable technologies:

–Indirect Evaporative Cooling ensures clean indoor air while reducing energy consumption and PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).

–Building-Integrated Photovoltaics maximize solar energy use for nighttime illumination.

–Waste Heat Recovery repurposes energy from rooftop equipment, and heat pumps warm office spaces in winter, enabling energy recycling.

These features collectively enhance energy efficiency and reduce the environmental footprint of the development.

Landscape Design

The landscape design enlivens the waterfront with two plazas serving public visitors and office workers. The park preserves existing trees, enhancing its greenery and creating serene spaces for relaxation.

Open to the public, the front plaza draws inspiration from wireless network signal sources, combining green spaces, seating areas, and technology-driven amenities like 5G coverage and mobile charging stations. The pavement features historical elements of telecommunications and 5G development, transforming the plaza into a hub for leisure, learning, and connectivity.

Preserving the park’s original large trees, the inner garden area adjusts green space layouts to form pathways connecting building entrances and rest areas. Expanded seating and activity zones, such as whispering corners and discussion spaces, cater to the relaxation needs of office workers.

The vibrant waterfront zone includes facilities for sports and recreation, such as table tennis, dunking areas, and spaces for fishing, dining, and small events. It offers dynamic cultural and social experiences for employees and visitors alike.

Material Selection

The project emphasizes sustainability by using recyclable materials that reflect Songjiang’s cultural heritage. Light-colored corrugated ceramic panels echo the region’s ancient clay pottery traditions, while glazed ceramic tiles provide a near-human scale and rich textural details. These materials align with the theme of green and intelligent design, balancing modern technology with historical and cultural context.

Rich yet elegant, simple yet impactful, this redevelopment creates a park that integrates naturally with its surroundings while enhancing Songjiang’s atmosphere. The project celebrates the fusion of green living, technological innovation, and humanistic design, becoming a distinctive and sustainable landmark in the city.

Status

Competition 2nd Prize Winner

2024 Shanghai Infrastructure Renovation Competition_Songjiang Site

Team

Shiqing Liu, Dilina Nulali