Awe-Inspiring “Shanghai Tower” Skyscraper Honored as the Architectural Design of the Year

The Shanghai Tower

The stunningly modern Shanghai Tower borrows its name from the city in which it’s located. Designed by San Francisco-based firm Gensler, the structure rises high above the horizon line and is now China’s tallest building at 632 meters tall—making it an iconic part of the bustling skyline. The multi-use space is home to offices, entertainment venues, a luxury hotel, conference center, and other cultural amenities.

Boasting a futuristic look and feel, the 121-story skyscraper features a transparent, spiral form whose interior build is visible from the outside, giving us a firsthand look at the structure’s inner-workings. Once you’re inside, however, you realize that the exterior view doesn’t do it justice—the design has graceful, flowing curves that turn ordinary ceiling beams and window treatments into abstract works of art.

The Shanghai Tower has recently had the immense honor of winning the American Architecture Prize’s (AAP) Architectural Design of the Year. They note that the building is influential on a global architecture scale, but that it “also points the way forward for technical innovation accomplished within the parameters of a Chinese cultural identity.” Continuing, “…its function, identify, and symbolism are firmly rooted in the needs of its specific site.” Check out the other winners of the 2016 AAP here.

China's Tallest Building

Shanghai Tower Is A Multi-Use Space

Shanghai Tower Has Futuristic Look And Feel

China's Tallest Building Is 121 Story Sky Scraper

Technical Innovation Of The Shanghai Tower

The Inner Workings Of The Shanghai Tower

Spiral Interior Of The Shanghai Tower

Structure's Interior Becomes Abstract Works Of Art

Shanghai Tower Offers Cultural Amenities

Abstract Interior Design Of The Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower Is Full Of Graceful Flowing Curves

Graceful Flow And Spiral Work Within The Shanghai Tower

Transparent Spiral Interior Of The Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower Is Influential On Global Scale

Shanghai Tower Becomes Iconic Part Of Bustling Skyline

Gensler: Website
American Architecture Prize: Website

All photos by Connie Zhou.

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by David Teravagimov.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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