HENG SHAN LU

Invited to compete for a large commercial space in Shanghai's French Concession, a district notable for its contained, European-style urban scale, this project emerged from a reflection on the contemporary Asian city. Where shopping malls often dominate urban life as hubs for leisure, commerce, and social interaction, the aim was to propose a novel shopping mall concept: an homage to European public space, with the square as its central, vital core.

Designed across two staggered floors ensuring direct shop access, the building presents a consistent, lower scale along its length. The ground floor accommodates public functions (bars, restaurants, cafés) and luxury showrooms, while the basement levels are entirely dedicated to the shopping center. A central glass greenhouse floods the basement with natural light, and green areas define the pedestrian paths and square throughout.