Xi'an Opens Business District by Heatherwick Stu
The 155,000-square-meter Xi’an Centre Culture Business District (CCBD) is located south of the city’s historic center and pays homage to Xi’an’s artisanal heritage. The team used ceramics as the main material for the building’s façade, columns, and curved beams, reminiscent of the famous Terracotta Army.
The studio collaborated with local craftsmen and manufacturers to produce over 100,000 glazed tiles. The centerpiece of the district is the Xi’an Tree vertical park, consisting of a series of terraces and cascading gardens. Once at the top level, visitors can enjoy views of open streets and squares, as well as residential and office development with curved green roofs. According to Thomas Heatherwick, head of Heatherwick Studio, the project created not just a new commercial district in the city, but a full-fledged public space. The architects sought to make the location as attractive as possible for walks and meetings. “The aim of the project was to find a joyful and contemporary way to tell the story of Xi’an and bring people together,” adds Heatherwick.
