SHANGHAI | Lujiazui, Plot B2-5 building | 200 M+
 

This is the building under construction on the plot just next to the Shanghai Bank Tower. We have been thinking for mounths that the Jasper Tower will stand there until shanghigh woke us up.

There is not any information available about this project and as nothing surfaced since its construction began, I don't think I'll be able to find anything. No architect and developer name, no renderings. About its height, we can expect a 200+ meters building. May be there are some informations on the yard ?

Shanghigh told us the development name is "Merryland". I did found a http://www.merryland.com.cn site (real estate marketing and banking) but it is in chinese so I can't tell if there is any connection with this project.

Anyway we won't have to wait too long before this building takes shape, for foundation works are now quite advanced.

Just a repost of all the plot B2-5 construction photos that were posted by error in the Jasper Tower thread while I thought this was were it was been built. So here are the "Merryland" building construction pix back, by chronological order :


September 28th 2003, from the JinMao, begining of foundation works.

http://mk29.image.pbase.com/u39/tsechien/large/25597458.Shanghai012.jpg


March 7th 2004, very clear weather and sunshine. Colors are over saturated.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image10/5/94/54/134359454JEIJXN_ph.jpg
Full resolution pic :
http://community.webshots.com/s/image10/5/94/54/134359454JEIJXN_fs.jpg


May 26th 2004, from the Oriental Pearl.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image12/7/90/29/146879029ckPiiu_ph.jpg
Full resolution :
http://community.webshots.com/s/image12/7/90/29/146879029ckPiiu_fs.jpg


May 28th 2004, from the JinMao (no high resolution pic)

http://community.webshots.com/s/image12/3/11/52/147031152JeHnKV_ph.jpg


July 13th from the JinMao.

http://image.pbase.com/u34/a_g/upload/31297280.P7100033.JPG


June 19th 2004, from the Oriental Pearl.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image1/2/26/38/154422638mUvUUI_ph.jpg
Full resolution :
http://community.webshots.com/s/image1/2/26/38/154422638mUvUUI_fs.jpg


July 30th 2004, from the JinMao.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image15/2/28/79/169122879azhiMj_ph.jpg
Full resolution :
http://community.webshots.com/s/image15/2/28/79/169122879azhiMj_fs.jpg


Mid august 2004, from the JinMao.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image7/9/51/22/176595122GYrNTc_ph.jpg
Full resolution :
http://community.webshots.com/s/image7/9/51/22/176595122GYrNTc_fs.jpg

It grows really fast...and the little Lujiazui Area will soon be filled with highrise building..I am looking forward to it..

September 7th 2004, from the Oriental Pearl.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image7/4/70/43/184747043ClEAyI_ph.jpg
Full resolution :
http://community.webshots.com/s/image7/4/70/43/184747043ClEAyI_fs.jpg

September 12th 2004, from the JinMao. No evidence of obvious changes.
On the contrary, things seem to be moving on North Bund bank.

http://community.webshots.com/s/image17/6/79/19/184167919IgPoVj_ph.jpg
Full resolution :
http://community.webshots.com/s/image17/6/79/19/184167919IgPoVj_fs.jpg

September 12th 2004, from the JinMao

http://www.stokely.org/20040912-shan...1474-small.JPG

High resolution :
http://www.stokely.org/20040912-shanghai/PICT1474.JPG

Finally a rendering surfaces, the building is a total disaster. 41 floors high.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/7/340/469.jpg

gosh, if they can replace the roof with a nicer design! The whole theme of this area is futuristic and they try to build something with red roof?

All we can hope for this building is that the rendering that surfaced a few weeks ago is no more of actuality or this building wil be the shame of Lujiazui.


October 30th 2004, from the HSBC tower. The two planned underground floors have now been dug.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/7/340/230.jpg

Full resolution : http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/7/340/230_o.jpg


November 4th 2004

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/7/340/123.jpg

Full resolution : http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/7/340/123_o.jpg

It's not a "total disaster".
It's just another retro design.

That's why it's a total disaster, a 50s russian tower among an emerging XXIth century CDB, it's totally out of context and not in an interesting way.

ugly as hell

December 14th 2004. A second, bigger crane on the plot.

http://www2.xitek.com/forum/200412/545/54574/54574_1103016127.jpg

This building reminds me of early 20th century New-York. Not bad by itself. Not sure though it will fit its surrounding. On the other hand, its uniqueness might make it stand out of the crowd.
I wouldn't mind something similar in my hometown : Montréal, Canada.

Temple of Mickey Mouse.

Really we'll have to wait and see if it fits in. It will sit right next to a blatantly postmodern design, which might help make the transition from 20th Century New York neo-gothicism (not sure if that's even a real term - lol) to the 21st century designs of the rest of the area. If the facade treatment is more of a reflective metallic surface and not concrete, it might be something really nice. Otherwise, I agree. It could suck something fierce.

But I'm still optimistic...

On the other hand, why not ? a building that stands out simply because everything else around it is futuristic ( let's say : asian post-modernism ? ) After all, all of our north-american downtowns are built from different style buildings, all of which are witnessing their own decades._Sometimes, a building does the opposite : the A.T.& T. building ( now Sony Towre ) with its Chippendale top is nothing else than historicism._Doesn't fit but stands out. Maybe the same will aplly to this building here - though with less permanent impression probably.

Very disappointing. I'm a real big fan of most of what China does, but definitely not this :no:.

Is it just me, or does this building look like it might work in a city like Savannah or Charleston?

Maybe the façade treatment will make it look nice. Retro top above a contemporary shaft, why not ?