Gala Avenue Westside
- Client
- CITIC Limited, China State Shipbuilding Corp.
- Services
- Architecture, Masterplanning, Interior Design
- Sector
- Mixed Use, Retail, Office
- Location
- Shanghai, China
- Awards
- CTBUH Awards, 2021: Award of Excellence – Best Tall Building under 100 Metres
From an industrial shipyard to a riverside destination in Lujiazui, Shanghai
Gala Avenue Westside occupies a historically significant position within Lujiazui Harbour City on the last commercial plot to be developed in the business district. The site previously operated as a shipyard run by the Shanghai Ship Company since the 19th century. Across a total floor area of 153,000m², the mixed-use complex integrates financial services, retail, an arts centre, luxury residences and public amenities at the intersection of Yincheng Road and Jimo Road along the Huangpu River.
153,000m²
Where Lujiazui meets the ground
Prioritising a low-rise cluster of 12 interconnected retail buildings of two to three storeys, the scheme uses two thirds of the permitted 150m height restriction with the office tower reaching 91.5m. The decision increases the riverside public realm by approximately 250,000m², introducing green walkways, interconnected plazas and a pedestrian environment scaled to the human scale rather than the skyline.
Shipyard memory, Shikumen detail
The design draws on two distinct layers of local identity. The massing and material palette pay homage to the site’s industrial shipyard history, with aged and contemporary materials adding richness across the 12 buildings. The interior design references Shanghai’s traditional Shikumen architecture, the city’s distinctive stone-gate housing typology, translating its spatial character and detailing into a contemporary retail environment. Together these references give the complex a character specific to its location, making it distinct from other Lujiazui developments.
Designing with the river
The environmental strategy is organised around the site’s riverside position. The building envelope uses high-transmittance Low-E insulating glass curtain walls and low-carbon decorative panels to reduce heat transfer, while a sunshade system manages summer thermal load. The overall layout is optimised for the prevailing riverside wind environment, with a carefully considered window-to-wall ratio improving natural ventilation and reducing air-conditioning demand during transitional seasons.
Green and blue infrastructure
Vertical greening systems and roof gardens are integrated across the building facades, with pocket green spaces positioned at key circulation nodes. Open corridors connect the scheme to the riverside green belt, blurring the boundary between the built complex and the natural edge of the Huangpu River. A complete rainwater collection and reuse system treats and recycles water for irrigation and road flushing, with permeable paving and infiltration facilities integrated into the riverside landscape to reduce urban waterlogging and support efficient water resource management.
