Urban Symbiosis 混合用途大樓 by Xiyao Wang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award 金獎 in 建築、樓宇及結構設計 Competition Category.

金建築· 2025

Urban Symbiosis 混合用途大樓

by Xiyao Wang

Client: Extended Play Lab

A' Design Award 金獎 Winner in 建築 Category

89,702

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #163837

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Urban Symbiosis 混合用途大樓

Urban Symbiosis 是位於紐約市7號線地鐵站上蓋的混合用途超高層發展項目,集住宅公寓、服務式住宅及辦公空間於一體。為彰顯偉大的地下空間,地鐵入口置於中心位置,引入自然光並提供24小時公眾通道。設計透過結合辦公及住宅項目優化能源負荷,減輕電網壓力。有別於傳統垂直堆疊模式,項目採用水平分割形成兩座大樓,創造共享公共空間,設有餐廳、共享工作空間及健身室等設施,促進持續互動。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 金獎

Urban Symbiosis 混合用途大樓是 A' Design Award 金獎得主，這是授予一流、絕妙而傑出設計的極為崇高的認可。金獎得主是極具創新、極富遠見且璀璨奪目的創作，反映出其設計師的天才、智慧與才幹。預計Urban Symbiosis 混合用途大樓將成為一項備受讚譽、引領潮流、氣勢恢宏的發明，帶來前所未有的價值。這件贏得 A' Design Award 金獎的設計是一個壯觀而受人敬重的項目，極大地造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。Urban Symbiosis 混合用途大樓激起強烈的渴望，喚起激情，鼓勵創造力，令我們著迷。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Urban Symbiosis reimagines the traditional tower by horizontally splitting residential and office spaces, forming two interconnected towers. This innovative layout smooths energy demand by balancing daytime and nighttime usage, reducing grid pressure. A central subway entrance celebrates public access, while extensive shared amenities foster community interaction. The sunken garden at street level enhances urban experience, creating seamless connections with the High Line.
Dimensions & Packaging: The tower is 237m or 777 ft tall, consists of 56 residential floors, and 43 office floors, with retail at the ground and underground levels.
Tags: highrise building, mix use, residential, office, mass timber, public transit
Production Technology: The design employed a mix of urban planning and architectural analysis. Advanced parametric tools were used to study the relationship between public access, energy efficiency, and user flow. Vertical stacking was replaced with a horizontal division of programs, creating integrated spaces. High-performance materials and all-electric systems were chosen to ensure sustainability, while shared amenities were carefully planned to enhance social interaction and community-building.
Design Challenge: The greatest challenge was achieving a balance between urban connectivity and energy efficiency. Ensuring 24-hour public access while maintaining the privacy of residential spaces required a complex design process. The horizontal split of programs presented structural and logistical difficulties, as did integrating shared public amenities without disrupting the functional core. Balancing public engagement with sustainability and energy performance was a key obstacle.
Research: Research focused on balancing mixed-use program demands in high-density areas. Data was collected on energy consumption patterns and spatial usage in residential and office towers. Parametric modeling tools informed the horizontal split design, optimizing building efficiency and interaction. The resulting insights revealed that the design could improve energy loads, reduce grid pressure, and enhance public-private space integration, contributing to a sustainable and socially engaged urban development.
Inspiration: The inspiration for the project stemmed from the symbiosis between residential and office programs, aiming to optimize energy usage by aligning their differing time demands. Drawing from urban connectivity principles, the project integrates public spaces with private development, influenced by the dynamic interaction between work and home life. Research on mixed-use high-rise buildings shaped its energy efficiency and public access approach.
Project Duration: The ideal was first conceived in 2017, and carried out in 2024
Operation Flow: Urban Symbiosis optimizes energy use by balancing day-and-night occupancy of residential and office spaces, reducing strain on the power grid. The design's split tower layout creates more public interaction zones, like shared amenities, between residential and office functions. The central subway entrance and sunken garden promote 24-hour accessibility. This blend of private and public space boosts community engagement, making it perform better than conventional vertical designs.
Image Credits: Xiyao Wang