Coming Soon | The CITIC Square Renovation in Shanghai

In 2018, Kokaistudios won an international design competition to upgrade the CITIC Square in Shanghai, including both architecture renovation and interior design. CITIC Square is located in the very core business center of West Nanjing Road, forming the "Commercial Golden Triangle" along with Westgate Mall and Plaza 66. With a history of nearly 20 years, the building has witnessed and participated in the rise of Shanghai's economy and culture, while now is fire-new upgraded from the inside out and ready to embrace the city with a fresh and innovative attitude, corresponding to its slogan “Live the life, Feel the future”.

external conditions

design concept

Kokaistudios takes "Pixel CITI(C)" as the design concept: pixels as an individual yet intact element itself can achieve amazing display effects after being combined into a whole graphic; when applied to the design of buildings and city blocks, it can become the over all start-up code of CITIC Square. The design shattered the original large and single volume of the building, breaking the box, dissected it into different "pixels" and combined into a transparent, diverse and interactive city picture.

elevation rendering

exterior view

Pixel represents porous and breathable urban life blocks, blurring the bounderies between the city and the commercial space. The three pure and transparent glass boxes in the east, west and middle are configured as the engine of the entire project, providing a powerful display surface facing the city. The sky gardens balconies frame beautiful perspectives on Nanjing roadand on the historical lilong housing on the south. The two sunken squares bring the ground floor public landscapes down to the basement, inviting the guest in a flawless journey into the commercial space. Matching up with CITIC’s “green commercial” theme, the roof has been transform into lush green terraces used by the F&B tenants for their outdoor dining with a 360 degree view of the city.

exterior view

sectional perspective

The renovation of the interiors divided the central atrium in two, the lower more focused on retail luxury and the higher with many F&B outlets with open view on the city and lifestyle brand. The new platform on level three is the perfect spot for pop up and event. The new vertical circulation’s loop is designed as a journey and decorated with LED screen to make the experience very dynamic and interactive.

3F plan

section diagram

The design concept of Pixel CITI(C) is the answer to the fast-paced changes of Shanghai in its urban environment, commercial operation, city life and the aesthetics of the times.

interior axonometric diagram

section axonometric

Adhering to the operation philosophy of "culture, fashion, technological future and lifestyle", CITIC Square will set a new benchmark for urban commerce.