A 212-meter butterfly-shaped skyscraper was built in China
An unusual skyscraper resembling butterfly wings has been completed in the Chinese city of Shenzhen. Designed by the British architectural firm RSHP, the 45-story Hetao Alpha complex reaches a height of 212 meters. Its "wings," which lean to two sides, are connected by a central concrete core.
A 212-meter butterfly-shaped skyscraper has been built in China
Hetao Alpha consists of two main parts. The east wing has 37 floors, while the west wing has 44 floors. The central core that connects them acts as the building's main support. A multipurpose public block is located in the lower section.
The inclined appearance of the wings was created due to cantilever sections extended outward from both sides of the central concrete core. The total area of office spaces in the complex is 70,410 square meters.
To increase the stability of the building, large grid-like support structures — trusses — are installed every 12 floors. They are placed on floors allocated for technical rooms and evacuation areas. This solution allows maintaining open and freely planned areas on office floors.
The facade is fully covered with glass. Together with the open layout of the office floors, this allows employees to view the city landscape virtually unobstructed.
At the four corners of the wings, two-story-high curved glass surfaces are used. They are designed to provide better views of specific panoramas. The wetlands of Shenzhen Bay are visible from the west side, and the Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong is visible from the south.
Elevator shafts are located in the central part of the building, along the north and south facades. They are also fully glazed. Therefore, passengers can observe the surrounding landscape while ascending or descending.
Special attention is also paid to natural ventilation in the building. Special slots for air intake have been added to the glass parts of the facade, and sun-protection louvered panels have been installed. These solutions serve to ensure air circulation in the rooms and reduce energy consumption.