KPF designs adaptable facade for mixed-use project in Hangzhou

New York-based architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) has implemented a facade system for the Westlake 66 mixed-use development in Hangzhou, China, designed to adapt to the building's evolving programmatic needs. The project, a 2 million-square-foot complex featuring offices, retail, hotels, and public spaces across six towers, experienced shifting use requirements between its 2018 start and recent completion.

KPF transformed this uncertainty into a defining design feature by wrapping the project's podium level with a modular cell wall facade. This system allows for reconfigurations based on internal functions, adapting from wide windows for retail showrooms to narrow, tinted windows for lounges or louvered vents for mechanical systems. The facade can be adjusted if the building's uses change over its lifespan.

Inspired by biology and cellular structures, the system comprises roughly 6-foot-tall cells. KPF's design team analyzed over 2,800 unique conditions, determining that these could be met by a modular system with just seven different aperture types and careful orientation. The design incorporates 21 interchangeable parts and draws on local elements, including terracotta colors referencing the region's historical industry and the urban context.

This reconfigurable facade creates visual interest and flexibility. KPF views this approach as a lesson in designing for the inherent uncertainty of large, mixed-use projects, enabling buildings to evolve over time. The system allows for dynamic street-level interactions and can accommodate diverse tenant needs, from educational institutions to hospitality and retail.