A stunning shopping mall named 1,000 Trees has recently opened in Shanghai, China. It was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and his design studio who launched a similar project in New York last year. However, this idea realized by Heatherwick is not new. According to historical records, thousands of years ago the ancient city of Babylon featured the Hanging Gardens, an ascending series of tiered gardens containing a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and vines, resembling a large green mountain constructed of mud bricks.
Like the ancient architectural wonder 1,000 Trees has also giant pillars used as planters for trees and vines which turn the building into an extraordinary garden city. The name of the shopping center modestly conceals the true extent of its engineering genius. The building will be smothered in 250,000 plants, approximately 125,000 of which have already been planted.
Plants have been chosen so that to delight even the most demanding visitors. Evergreen, deciduous, fruit, and flowering trees, shrubs, vines, all these plants create a real paradise regardless of season. Residents of one of the most densely populated and technologically advanced cities in China are particularly in need of such an oasis. In addition, a unique retail complex pleases the eye not only with its natural aesthetics.
Since the building is located in the area known for numerous graffiti, more than a dozen street art artists were involved in its decoration. A huge 130-foot-long mural is its special highlight. As a result, the shopping center blends in perfectly with the overall landscape.
The scope of the project is just enormous. On a 15-acre lot there are hundreds of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, a supermarket, and numerous public spaces.
Once completed the complex will also feature several museums, residential spaces, offices, a cinema, a heritage center, and a 280-room 'boutique hotel' with an infinity pool and spa facilities looking out over the river.
Locals have already dubbed 1,000 Trees complex the Western Mountain which might be even more appropriate since it looks exactly like a mountain covered with woods.
Heatherwick hopes that this approach to architecture will really change the life of people because such complexes create the micro-climate that is much less polluted than any area of a big city.
Shanghai authorities have already announced the construction of a similar complex, a 19-storey Eastern Mountain which will feature a modern hotel and offices.
Source: lemurov
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