From landscape to tower form, eight residential apartment towers align, in their scalloped edges, with a collection of elliptical parks below.

Our project is part of Luxe Lakes Eco-city in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. It includes eight multi-residential towers varying from 22 to 38 storeys in height, two gatehouses and integrated retail.

Set within a rich precinct of lakes and landscape, the shimmering silver towers frame a collection of themed elliptical courtyards. The figure of these courtyards is inscribed on the scalloped facades of the towers exposing the cut ends of terracotta lined out-door rooms.

Climatically, Chengdu is mild and balconies function as outdoor rooms. Each balcony interior is clad with terracotta tiles in a vertical gradient of reds. This colour palette, deeper at the tower’s base and dilute at its crown, parallels the shift from earth to sky. This brings an individual identity to each residence within the tower.

Marking the peninsular is the tallest tower of the precinct. Its petal like plan form is extruded to a remarkable height, crowned with a cut end that houses a single three storey penthouse. In silhouette, the dark grey vertical extrusion of the towers figure has been eroded. The segmented skin of the dark metallic sleeve reveals a warm inner core of finely crafted scalloped terracotta tiles particular to this building.

Set within an abundant landscape, the thresholds of the tower lobbies extend into the landscape. Here, the elliptical form of the gardens acknowledges the scalloped facades of the towers. Lobbies are like viewing apparatus, drawing visitors towards a framed view of the lake.