Shanghai Tower

Brief information

Shanghai Tower rises to 632 meters, but its main feature is not its height alone. As it rises, the body twists by 120 degrees: this is not a decorative gesture, but part of an engineering calculation. The taper, texture, and asymmetry of the facade reduced the wind load compared with a conventional rectangular tower, which meant that less steel and fewer glass panels were needed.

The building stands in Pudong next to the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center, so it is easier to read in comparison with the neighboring skyscrapers. Here, the form immediately shows how the skyscraper was adapted to wind, light, and energy consumption, rather than simply being extended upward.

What to notice first

It is worth comparing the outer skin and the inner glass facade. The tower is arranged as a central core around which nine cylindrical volumes are stacked; between the two glass layers are interior zones with atriums, gardens, cafes, retail areas, and views of the city. So here, the glass functions not only as a surface, but also as an intermediate space.

The transparent glazing is also important: pale green cladding was rejected so that the building would not blend into the surrounding landscape. In the upper part, notice the spiral parapet: it collects rainwater for the building systems. Directly beneath it are wind turbines that supply electricity to the upper floors. The top of the tower therefore looks not like a simple completion of the silhouette, but like a working part of the building.