REN People's Building
Published 2007.06.14
The REN building is a proposal for a hotel, sports and conference centre for the WORLD EXPO 2010 in Shanghai. The building is conceived as two buildings merging into one. The first building, emerging from the water, is devoted to the activities of the body and houses the sports and aquatic culture centre. The second building, emerging from land, is devoted to the spirit and enlightenment and houses the conference centre and various meeting facilities. The two buildings meet in a 1,000 unit hotel and form the Chinese character for “People”, becoming a recognizable landmark for the WORLD EXOP 2010 in China.
Together, the two buildings become a tower and an arch. The arch creates a square for gatherings and activities, right on the main axis of the expo site overlooking the Huangpu River. The square is sheltered from the rain but the sun is allowed to shine through - from east in the morning and from west in the evening.
Large, curved plazas cover the pool and conference buildings, creating a continuous recreational public space along the river. Round openings and roof lights bring light to the auditoriums and pools and become gradually denser as they rise from the river, eventually becoming glittering windows and terraces for the hotel rooms.
The REN building could be the Eiffel Tower of Shanghai, a landmark symbolising the people-oriented pursuit of the Shanghai WORLD EXPO.
More information:
Profile on BIG
Interview with BIG
Useful links:
BIG website
Project Credit List
Collaborators: JDS Architects, Niras
Partner-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels
Project Leader: Andreas Pedersen
Contributers: Andrew Griffen, Bo Benzon, Christian Dam, Damita Yu, David Zahle, Jakob Christensen, Jakob Lange, Jan Tanaka, Julie Schmidt-Nielsen, Karsten Hammer Hansen, Katrin Betschinger, Kristoffer Harling, Mia Frederiksen, Mia Scheel Kristensen, Nanna Gyldholm Møller, Narisara Ladawal, Sophus Søbye, Thomas Christoffersen
