Comprising a civic centre, conference centre, hotel, and offices, Pujiang Peaks features a collection of timber structures with sweeping curved roofs, set in a natural park landscape that maximises biodiversity and walkability.

At the heart of the design are three triangular building clusters around circular courtyards. The largest cluster, in the centre of the site, contains the civic centre, conference centre, and hotel; the other two clusters contain offices. Sweeping curved roofs unify each cluster, also supporting photovoltaic panels to generate electricity. Inside, the buildings are welcoming and dynamic thanks to the use of “3D lobbies”. Public entrance spaces wrap around on top of the buildings’ functional spaces, with cascading terraces and stairways that put the building’s activity on display to create a lively atmosphere.

The landscaping design is equally important in delivering on the design’s sustainable ambitions. A parkland of indigenous trees and grasses increases the biodiversity of the area and reduces local temperatures. Berms of earth – created using repurposed soil from the excavation of the Pujiang’s central lake – improve natural ventilation, blocking the cold winter wind but directing cool summer breezes through the park and into the buildings. The project uses “sponge city” principles, which help to avoid flooding, and enable rainwater to be collected and stored for later use in the buildings or for irrigating plants.