Bund Finance Center, Shanghai (2017)
In 2017, Shanghai contracted with Foster + Partners to help develop a mixed-use building to serve as an arts and cultural center and define the end point of the Bund, one of its most famous streets. The goal was to revitalize the Shanghai waterfront area. It did more than that, it became a notable step in creating a building in constant motion. Buildings that appear to be fluid or in motion captivate the eye by creating undulations in their design. In this case, the Bund Financial Center in Shanghai is actually changing depending on the time of day. Inspired by traditional Chinese weaving, six hundred and seventy-five overlapping magnesium alloy tubes are suspended on a track around the exterior of the building. The tubes move around the building, continuously changing its appearance, with each ‘tassel’ appearing to come together, then move apart.
