SHANGHAI | World Financial Center | 1,614 FT / 492 M | 101 FLOORS

[avcellvs]

Interesting shot from the JinMao, some mounths ago. (a cameraunion forum post)

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/18/450/342_o.jpg

[Fabb]

Much more is going on in the construction site than one may think.

[STR]

I've just uploaded the buildable model for SWFC. It's a bit narrower than Jin Mao, but it dominates it vertically.

http://skyscrapermodels.us/models/photos/SWFC_2.jpg

http://skyscrapermodels.us/models/World_Financial_Center_SHA.html

I'm aware the model has a vastly simplified base but making an accurate base really isn't worth the effort/

[coth]

hey 6 days without photos! almost week. it's long time for swfc:)
any updates?

[avcellvs]

Yesterday, from the webcam, I saw a third crane... Let's wait for the next pix, for confirmation.

[jacks]

Third crane is up ...

[Fabb]

Great news !
I bet that it'll have at least 15 floors by the end of the year.

[mewonlottery]

it looks like it's already about 10 floors above ground.

[dchen]

our nice guy cityrain is out of town... he's given an advance notice to cameraunion forumers. we got to be a little bit patient.

[avcellvs]

A link to a video about the SWFC that has been posted on the SSC forum :

http://www.far2000.com/donghua/shjinrongzhx.wmv

[avcellvs]

September 4th 2005. Cityrain is back !

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/18/620/118_o.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/18/620/119_o.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/18/620/120_o.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/18/620/121_o.jpg

[mewonlottery]

The base looks small from the top picture of this page...

[nezzybaby]

^no it doesnt it looks fucking massive in every image, compare it to a car, crane or tree. Also remember its been taken from the top of another massive tower, which it is as wide as.


father ted : "the cows in here are small the ones outside are far away"

[mewonlottery]

A link to a video about the SWFC that has been posted on the SSC forum :

http://www.far2000.com/donghua/shjinrongzhx.wmv

This one is old...Is there any new ones coming out ??? Just curious...

[mewonlottery]

A link to a video about the SWFC that has been posted on the SSC forum :

http://www.far2000.com/donghua/shjinrongzhx.wmv

This one is old...Is there any new ones coming out ??? Just curious...

[mewonlottery]

A link to a video about the SWFC that has been posted on the SSC forum :

http://www.far2000.com/donghua/shjinrongzhx.wmv

This one is old...Is there any new ones coming out ??? Just curious...

[Razqal]

The base looks small from the top picture of this page...

i agree, the base looks kinda small. i see the truck next to it and it really doesn't look that massive.

[mewonlottery]

^no it doesnt it looks fucking massive in every image, compare it to a car, crane or tree. Also remember its been taken from the top of another massive tower, which it is as wide as.


father ted : "the cows in here are small the ones outside are far away"

well...consider it's a 492m skyscraper, the base seems to be smaller than what I expected.

[STR]

^Based on the calulations I made when I created my WFC model, the base comes out to be 195 feet with a possible error of 3 feet. As I recall, Jin Mao is about 200, also give or take a yard.

[malec]

father ted : "the cows in here are small the ones outside are far away"
Good old Father Ted. What a brilliant show! :cool:

[avcellvs]

According to a SSC post, a cameraunion forumer posted a message about a new redesign of the WFC. The source of the info si supposed to be "someone working in Shanghai Urban Planning and Administration Bureau" : NO MORE HOLE AT THE TOP ! It can't be true, this design just does not work. Probably total bullshit.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/134/581.jpg

[coth]

for me it's better without the hole

[Stephenapolis]

I still like it without the hole. But it has better appeal with the hole. It looks a little too plain without it. The hole gives it more character.

[skysoldier]

I still like it without the hole. But it has better appeal with the hole. It looks a little too plain without it. The hole gives it more character.

I don't think the same foundation could load the weight of the new height(460m-492m) and the added weight w/o hole.

[some_stupid_nut]

No it is all bullshit. The hole was put there in the first place so that wind could pass through. If it wasnt there they would have to redesign all the structural support to make it withstand the wind up on top. So its all BS. Anyways, I want the skywalk thing up there!

[iamrobk]

From what I have learned on this site, the foundation can usually hold a lot more weight than will actually be put on it. It's the steel that would need to be stronger.

Anyway, I think it's still good without the hole. I'm not sure which way I like it best.

[Fabb]

Would they remove the hole because it looks too japanese (that was once a rumour) ?

There was also the possibility of a spire (or two).

[avcellvs]

Would they remove the hole because it looks too japanese (that was once a rumour) ?

If this is the case, it's not a victory of intelligence. KPF design would have turned into a battle field for morons. I hope chinese will be clever enough not to get trapped in these political quicksands.

KPF also gave this circular hole the exact diameter than the Oriental Pearl spheres in order to link them as male-female symbols. In other words, this could also read as the Oriental Pearl is pricking the WFC hole. China is pricking Japan. And of course this interpretation would be as stupid as the anti-japanese one. Patriotism, nationalism, stone age values for sheeps flocks that make fools of themselves. This debate is really bad for China image. But I seriously doubt anti-japanism receive a deep and strong support among the chinese people. Just political bullshit and mass manipulation of sinister memories.

That this circular hole focused so much attention only prooves it is a very strong element of SWFC design. Its whole massing came from the transition to an horizontal square to a vertical circle. like a gesture, a hand holding a sign to the sky. If you remove the sign, the spirit of the building is just lost.

[Fabb]

I agree.
But maybe there are technical and financial considerations, too. Loss of space, cost of the architectural gesture, unexpected wind pattern...

[iamrobk]

Maybe they just needed/wanted more office space. Who knows, ti could be anything.

[try 2B funny]

KPF also gave this circular hole the exact diameter than the Oriental Pearl spheres in order to link them as male-female symbols.

You learn something new everyday

[avcellvs]

Quote by avcellvs
KPF also gave this circular hole the exact diameter than the Oriental Pearl spheres in order to link them as male-female symbols.

You learn something new everyday
KPF's own statement... Like the square and circle symbols, this male-female evocation is something usual in chinese culture.

[Aboveday]

those rendering were made by a chinese forumer who heard the rumour in a chinese forum ,and the source of the rumour is form a shanghaiese who is working in this project.In that forum,they also mentioned an observation deck on 472 meters to replace the open door observation bridge . this is what I have read from that forum.

according to the news form Hong Kong,the height limit for the third supertall next to swfc has been decided officially.the building cannot exceed 360 meters.The landowner has *invited* 5 developer from Hong Kong to bid the land.

News in Chinese GB code.

2005-07-08 08:15:02

【明報專訊】據發展商消息人士稱，位於上海地標金茂大廈、被譽為浦東陸家嘴的商業地王，地皮業主陸家嘴股份有限公司已向 5間發展商發出入標邀請。除了一直矢志於當地發展的和黃（ 0013）、新地（ 0016）、瑞安集團（ 0983）及世茂集團（ 0649）之外，在當地暫未有發展的香港置地亦獲邀入標﹔最低入標價為 17.6億元（人民幣．下同）。由於該幅地將是區內最後一幅大型商業用地，市場估計成交價或逾 35億元。

目前已邀請 5間發展商入標的陸家嘴 Z3-2商業用地，由具政府背景的陸家嘴集團持有。據發展商的文件資料顯示，該項目佔地近 22萬方呎，發展樓面逾 215萬方呎，其中 6層為商場，樓上可作寫字樓、酒店及服務式住宅，樓高最高達 360米。該地皮將於今年 8月 29日截標，並於截標後 100天內公布結果。

底價 17.6億 料出價進取

是次招標的商業用地，高度僅次於正在興建中的上海環球金融中心及滬地標金茂大廈（見圖）。

三摩廈位置非常接近，加上短期區內將不會再有大規模的商業地皮推出，相信 5間發展商出價進取。以今年保利集團斥 7.12億元投得的浦東上糧八庫商業用地，以及浙江華門斥 14.6億元投得北外灘匯山碼頭東商業地皮計算，相信成交價將較底價高出 1倍。市場估計，成交價或逾 35億元。

新地及和黃於陸家嘴搶地最為積極，前者剛斥資 31.8億元奪黃浦江畔浦東商住地皮，並入標陸家嘴的世紀大道商業用地，後者亦入標世紀大道商業用地，而太古地產及上海百聯集團亦有入標，該地將於 9月底公布結果。瑞安及世茂集團亦是區內投地常客，較令人意外的是香港置地，該集團在滬的土地儲備較少。

明報記者陳天賜報道

[avcellvs]

Thanx Aboveday for the news.

The observation deck would be treatened too ! To me this really sounds like a rumour : I've heard it from Z who heard it from Y who... and so on... until nobody can put a hand on A...

So the Z3-2 building construction is nearing. 360 meters, not bad ! The crossroad in between the three monsters might turn out to be quite windy.

[Aboveday]

You are welcome. :)

[mewonlottery]

I like the old rendering..SWFC w/o a hole @ the top bothers me a lot...I don't care if it really symbolizes whatever, it just looks bettern w/ a hole and for the 3rd supertall, I will wait to see the rendering...it better not to be a box..

[malec]

I remember seeing a twisting tower. I'll try to dig it up.

[malec]

Here it is.

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200509/2044/204469/204469_1126162971.jpg

[xiahoudun]

In the model of Shanghai in the Expositionhall at Peoples Square in Shanghai Z3-2 was a spired tower like Jinmao. However in that model it was also taller than both Jinmao and SWFC.

Maybe they have changed the original plans for height and shape?

[JACKinBeantown]

In the SWFC giftshop they should sell bottle openers shaped like the building.

[mewonlottery]

Here it is.

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200509/2044/204469/204469_1126162971.jpg

for some reason, I think Jinmao isn't washed regularily..

[avcellvs]

Malec, I posted this pic in the "Pudong various buildings thread" some days ago. This is not a rendering of the third supertall, it's a 320 meters high project for the international cruise harbour part of the North Bund redevelopment (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?threadid=83792). Moyan 808 just made this pic for fun.

[avcellvs]

September 2005, two weeks ago I guess. I hope cityrain's pix will be back soon :help:

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/258/109_o.jpg

[Fabb]

That will be a great angle when it's completed.

[avcellvs]

Cityrain's pix are back ! :D

September 17th 2005 ? Not so many changes since his last post two weeks ago.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/283/156_o.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/283/157_o.jpg

[Chad]

Gigantual!

[Fabb]

Nice close-up.
The construction workers look small next to the new colossus.

[avcellvs]

September 14th 2005 : first pic of the WFC I have ever seen from the Bund ! Later the 200 meters high "Fortune world" will be built behind the residentials so you won't see the WFC lower part anymore from that angle.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/306/290.jpg

Full resolution : http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/306/290_o.jpg

[Fabb]

It's hard to pinpoint, but I did it !

[avcellvs]

September 19th 2005, by cityrain

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/340/172_o.jpg

[Chad]

The core!!

[avcellvs]

September 20th 2005. Pix by Steelforest. Thanx to a fire incident, we get pix of the WFC construction site from another angle. Some ground level construction activities were hidden from the Cityrain's angle.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/362/635.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/362/636.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/362/637.jpg

[John Hinds]

Looks more like dust than a fire.

[Fabb]

Hopefully the fire incident wasn't too serious.
There seems to be a lot of work still being done below ground level.

[avcellvs]

^ Jonny 5 must be right, This white smoke does not look much like a fire smoke. I hope nothing too serious happened.

[mewonlottery]

I hope they can slow down the process by 1%, just to make sure everything is being done right. Sometimes Chinese treat time more seriuosly than quality...

[Chad]

thank god, just a small fire..:)

[JACKinBeantown]

I count about 20 scaffold floors. So does that mean the core is about 160 feet tall so far? (I think someone mentioned earlier that each scaffold floor is about 8 feet.)

[mewonlottery]

I am still wandering is the top hole cancelled ???

[John Hinds]

I am still wandering is the top hole cancelled ???
No.

If it was true there would be press releases from the developers and the architects.

[mewonlottery]

I am still wandering is the top hole cancelled ???
No.

If it was true there would be press releases from the developers and the architects.

cool..it looks much better with the hole at the top...

[Fabb]

The hole will probably stay, but let's not rule out some kind of redesign near the top.

[avcellvs]

There seems to be a lot of work still being done below ground level.

U was right ! Here is the explanation for the "smoke pix" (from SkyScrapersCity forum) :

sages :

they are demolishing the underground cofferdam.

vincent :

Cofferdam is the big circular perimeter wall that you saw last year (in swfc construction updates). There are about 4 to 5 reinforcement concrete bars right inside that circular wall in various depth. I believe what they are doing now is to destory part of the circular wall (only the side that has underground floor under the podium) just to connect some of the underground floors both inside and outside of the circular wall. The reinforcement bars cannot be destoryed, otherwise, the cofferdam would just cave in by the force of the earth from outside.

[avcellvs]

Obviously they are boy working underground and building the podium. That's probably the reason why the building rising has slowed down in last two weeks (and cityrain to post new pix).

[avcellvs]

September 28th 2005, pic by steel forest. Floors are not built yet.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/535/173.jpg

[xiahoudun]

Thanks Avcellvs...but I can't see the picture. Maybe something with the link?

[avcellvs]

^ The link seems to be OK. Try the cameraunion forum pic link :

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200509/1004/100469/100469_1127884187.jpg

[colemonkee]

That's an awesome picture!! steel forest must be pretty tall. :D

[avcellvs]

September 30th 2005, pix by dchen.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/580/39.jpg


October 1st 2005, pix by Cityrain.

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/580/41_o.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/580/42_o.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/19/580/43_o.jpg

[deejer8]

Something I've been wondering for sometime now, and after looking at that pic of the building from above, are the corners of SWFC not going to be exaxt 90 degree angles at the base?:???:

[Torch]

Something I've been wondering for sometime now, and after looking at that pic of the building from above, are the corners of SWFC not going to be exaxt 90 degree angles at the base?:???:
SWFC has only two 90 degrees corners

[colemonkee]

Those diagonal brackets are HUGE. I wonder if you'll be able to see any diagonal steel through the curtain wall.

[Fabb]

Those diagonal brackets are HUGE. I wonder if you'll be able to see any diagonal steel through the curtain wall.

That would be nice. But I'm afraid it won't happen.

[avcellvs]

October 6th 2005

Sad news, official news : NO MORE CIRCULAR HOLE AT THE TOP !
The new renderings on the building yard now features a trapeze. I will upload these pix as soon as my image hosting service (the disastrous "worldisround") will consider making this possible.

EDIT (sorry for the wrong links) :

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200510/1539/153964/153964_1128499422.jpg

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200510/1539/153964/153964_1128498969.jpg

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200510/1539/153964/153964_1128499346.jpg

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200510/1539/153964/153964_1128499382.jpg

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200510/1539/153964/153964_1128499407.jpg


http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200510/1539/153964/153964_1128499482.jpg

[John Hinds]

A trapeze?
What, why, how?

BTW: you posted the links wrong.

[John Hinds]

Hosted the images at SSP.
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/570/9153964_1128499422.jpg
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/570/9153964_1128499382.jpg
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/570/9153964_1128499463.jpg
:no:

[STR]

They f*cked it up completely. They killed it. They took one of the best designs to come out of postmodernism and they killed it.

[High Pointer]

All I can say is...what a disappointment.:uhh: :???: :no:

[colemonkee]

Damn. This sucks. While it's not the worst thing that can happen (closing up the hole would have been much worse), the circle was still worlds apart and much, much better. STR, you're right, they've effectively fucked up one of the best designs in a long, long time.

Am I wrong to assume that this is the first tower to be changed (for the worse) by racism/culture war? I mean wasn't one of the reasons that the circle was removed is that the circle is a symbol of Japanese culture, and the Chinese wanted nothing of it? If so, that is very, very sad.

[John Hinds]

I think the hole was changed because they couldn't make the ferris wheel idea work.

[coth]

:no:

[James Raymond]

"The Shanghai World Bottleopener Center" just doesn't have the same ring, does it? Actually, it resembles a wood lathe more than anything.

[mewonlottery]

SHIT>>>>>>
NOW I am so disappointed that I don't even want it to be built....

[H-man]

i miss the cirecle but this will still be a beautiful building

[mewonlottery]

i miss the cirecle but this will still be a beautiful building

It might still be a beautiful building, but comparing to the original design, it's a disappointment.

[MayDay]

http://www.clevelandskyscrapers.com/wfcpotato.jpg

[Beyond 1000]

I still think SWFC will be an awesome building but STR is right in that they blew the call. This is an anti Japanese move through and through. A circle is not Japanese, it is merely a circle but since the Mori Building Company of Japan is behind this building then this building automatically became a Japanese symbol. If an American company was behind it, for example, I believe the circular hole would have been accepted.

Too bad.

Let's just make the best of it.

[H-man]

i think new york should build the old design :D

[Stephenapolis]

Although I liked the circle. The trapezoid looks fine too. The circle made the building look smoother and more organic. The trapezoid makes it look more industrial and sharper.

[OrientExpress]

I actually like this design alot better. It seems to blend in better with the surrounding buildings now.

[avcellvs]

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/20/83/117_o.jpg

OrientExpress : It seems to blend in better with the surrounding buildings now.
I don't think so the contextual linking to the Oriental Pearl (and Convention Center) spheres is lost

Colemonkee : While it's not the worst thing that can happen (closing up the hole would have been much worse), the circle was still worlds apart and much, much better.
I agree, even if this new design is not the worst option, it's more neutral than the circle which had a visual stonger strength. What's really sad is that the reason why it got replaced are probably political. This is just the victory of stupidity over art. In french we use an expression for these kind of frustrating situations : "comme donner de la confiture aux cochons" (like giving jam to pigs). This is not to the glory of China.


Here are the pix kidoublier posted on the cameraunion forum :

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/20/83/114.jpg

Full resolution : http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/20/83/114_o.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/20/83/115.jpg

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/20/83/116.jpg

Dark wearther on the plot...

http://www.worldisround.com/hosted/20/83/112_o.jpg

[Aboveday]

what can you expect form a communist country?

[xiahoudun]

It's indeed unfortunate that the circle/round hole won't be build. I liked it's form, and it's connection to the spheres of the Oriental Pearl Tower.

But let's not be too harsh on the new design; Like other forumers have mentioned, atleast there is still a hole in the top, altough not round anymore. Moreover, the SWFC is actually in the process of being build, and after all the years we had to wait for the 'first stone', I think it's getting build rather fast, which is great.

Still their must have been some pressure to change the round design into a square hole...

[wjfox2004]

This is the first I've heard about any redesign, and personally I think it would be disastrous if they changed it. The circle is far more unique and elegant. I had hopes that this would be the most stunning skyscraper in the world, but I feel I'm going to be very disappointed now.

[Fabb]

I'm surprised that the redesign is not more drastic. Maybe this isn't the end of it.

[try 2B funny]

Hilarious :hilarious :hilarious

[OrientExpress]

Come to think of it, the circle did look alot better. These must be some pretty embracing times for ShangHai. Not only because they can't make up their minds, but alot of people will start thinking they went to a lesser design because they weren't able to build the original circle as planed. What would be really funny is if they went back to the circle and it turns out a little lopsided.

[jose_kwan]

they both look like a chisel ... no offense ...

BUT i think the change is positive ...
coz it is easier to construct ...
the sides of the hole is slanted as the building gets thinner toward the top ... so its not a circle-circle ... imagine bending steels to the right arcs ... then form that gigantic "pseudo-circle" ... carried all the way up ... and placed precisely ...

or ... change the deisgn ... keep it linear and simple ...

but i think the trapezoid makes more sense in terms of that ... and it is a good thing ... that means it might be finished sooner ...

btw ... that ferris wheel idea is such a joke ... whats the point of spinning around when u r already situated at that height ... like ... from a little taller than any other buildings to more taller than any other buildings ... u r still at the tallest spot ...

[mewonlottery]

It's indeed unfortunate that the circle/round hole won't be build. I liked it's form, and it's connection to the spheres of the Oriental Pearl Tower.


On the other hand, it makes Oritenal Peal Tower stands out more because it's now the only building that has circle/round shape in the entire little Lujiazhui area...

[John Hinds]

It's indeed unfortunate that the circle/round hole won't be build. I liked it's form, and it's connection to the spheres of the Oriental Pearl Tower.


On the other hand, it makes Oritenal Peal Tower stands out more because it's now the only building that has circle/round shape in the entire little Lujiazhui area...

I guess your not counting the building next door then?
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/570/9153964_1128499382.jpg