Phoenix Towers will be an iconic landmark within an ambitious environmental master plan for Wuhan, the capital of central China. Situated on the Yangtze River at the crossroads of nine provinces, the ‘City of 1000 Lakes’, population 10 million, has recently been designated an environmental ‘Super City’ by the regional and central government.

At 1km high the Phoenix Towers will be the tallest pair of buildings in the world. The 47-hectare site is on an island in a lake at the end of a 3km avenue within a dense city layout. Arching bridge-like over the surrounding boulevards, each tower will have a unique personality and attributes: the Feng tower will lean towards the commercial zone, the Huang tower towards the cultural and recreational zone.

The project’s key emphasis is on the harmonious combination of 21st century Western technological know-how and experience with Chinese tradition and culture.

The landmark scheme will provide the environmental catalyst to re-invigorate the city, forming the nucleus of a wider green strategy linking Wuhan’s lakes environmentally and socially with the region’s landmark destinations and lake district. It will showcase social, economic and environmental sustainability within China, providing an entertaining and instructive experience for local people and visitors.

Environmental features will include lightweight photovoltaic cladding; thermal chimneys; suspended air gardens; wind turbines; water harvesting/recycling; waste recycling via biomass boilers; hydrogen fuel cells at ground level. The towers will generate their own power requirement while contributing to the surrounding district.