Situated along the riverfront in Nanjing, a former cold storage warehouse built in 1915 will be transformed into a unique commercial destination.
     Benoy has been appointed to redevelop a new mixed-use destination on the banks of the Yangtze River in Nanjing, China. Working with developer MCC Real Estate Group, Benoy will regenerate a historic ice storage warehouse as part of a wider masterplan for the Yangtze River Bridge area.
     Blending past with present, the scheme aims to evoke the memory of the area’s industrial heritage through a new mixed-use, retail and cultural experience for the community. 
     “We are incredibly excited to be working on this significant industrial regeneration project which will become one of the largest commercial developments in the area once completed. As designers, how we respect the hundred-year-old heritage of the site whilst introducing innovative retail, culture and hospitality offers has been an exciting opportunity,” said Qin Pang, Director at Benoy.
     Retaining the original form of the historical buildings, Benoy will insert new modern blocks which will form a cultural plaza at the heart of the site. A refined architectural expression on the outer street side elevations will be offset with more playful modern cubes. Through careful placement of the additional new buildings, Benoy was able to preserve the local views of the historical structures which were crucial in the design brief.
     “Nanjing is evolving and our design reflects the vision for the city - revitalising underutilised developments and creating vibrant new destinations,” said Qin.
     The development is due to start construction in 2018. For full story with more photos and plans, please refer to Building Journal March 2018. Subscribe Building Journal E-version <click here>