

jun aoki evokes a cascading waterfall with l’avenue shanghai in china

all images by shu he

rising to 28-storeys, the l’avenue building in shanghai by jun aoki & associates has been shaped to look like a cascading waterfall. the project, executed by hong kong architects leigh & orange, is home to an array of high-end, luxury retail shops as well as offices on the upper levels. having achieved LEED gold status, the fluid building uses reinforced concrete and is finished with white, ceramic, glazed tiles. the form exudes a feminine aesthetic, along with its iridescent façade, and curved edges, the structure gently billows out at the bottom to form the retail spaces.



the form conveys a subtle fluidity

the reflection of the fins, change in weather, sun path, and pedestrians, give the building a dynamism and simultaneously, movement of the vertical fins illuminate at night time. the exterior showcases a vertical curved surface, meanwhile the interior has 4 uniquely curved loops, surrounding the center atrium creating a space which overlaps horizontally. at night, lighting installed in the façade animates the surrounding area, making the skyscraper stand out amongst its neighbors.

see designboom’s article of the l’avenue shanghai while it was still in construction here.



the building is home to an array of luxurious retail brands



the material used is reinforced concrete with white, ceramic, glazed tiling



a softness is exuded, emphasizing the affinity with the park in front



the building has achieved LEED gold status



fully air-conditioned indoor areas which follow the gentle curve form of its exterior



l’avenue is distinctive amongst the grey, older surrounding buildings



at night, the tower is lit up

project info:

local architect: leigh & orange

main contractor: shanghai segacn decorative construction co.,ltd

curtain wall contractor: josef gartner curtain wall (shanghai) co, ltd.

interior contractor: china construction eighth engineering division. corp. ltd