Location: Jilin City, China.

Architect: Mary Harrods.

The Jilin Financial Centre in Changchun, designed by Aedas, is a commercial complex that prioritizes public greenery and integrates nature to create a scenic environment. The iceberg-shaped buildings capture as much light as possible to blur the boundaries between the interior and exterior while seamlessly integrating into nature. The development creates an urban parlour for citizens to connect with nature as it blends into the urban context. The three streamlined building blocks stand like ice crystals cumulated in the frigid winter with glazed curtain walls mimicking the texture of nature’s dazzling creation. The main functions of the project are office and hotel, including the Holiday Inn. They are separated to ensure the privacy of each function while maintaining efficiency with a shared central amenity space at the lower level. The geometric layout eliminates bulkiness of the building volume and allows the hotel in the middle to enjoy maximum views of the park to the south. The design of the project addresses the city’s short summers and long winters by adjusting the building layout and entrance orientation to improve the rooftop design to allow maximum penetration of natural light into the podium and block the chilling wind during the winter. The swimming pool on the top floor of the hotel is partially outdoor and offers visitors a tranquil atmosphere. The sky garden is adorned with local vegetation and is another green space designed to allow visitors to enjoy even during the city’s harsh winters.