Ningbo Archive Center

Urban Seal

The project is located in Ningbo, China, consisting of an office tower and a tower designated for archival functions. The office building requires ample natural light, while the archives tower does not need any lighting. The podium serves as a public activity center for the city, making it challenging to effectively integrate these three distinct functions in the design.

The design concept is “Urban Seal,” representing the two towers of the archives as a pair of seals. “Sealing history, engraving time,” the facade resembles a piece of jade, with digital lines carved into it to serve as lighting elements, symbolizing the “flow of urban information.” The podium, composed of “six pieces of jade,” forms a solid foundation, acting as the cultural living room of the city.

The unified and symmetrical image of the two towers blurs the completely different facade functions required by each tower. The overall design is modern and resembles a monument to the city, recording its history.