Global architecture studio Foster + Partners has completed the Euro American Innovation City (EIC), a major mixed-use development on the banks of the Qiantang River in Hangzhou. Covering 346,450 square metres, the project forms a key part of the city’s expanding Central Business District and has been designed to create an integrated destination for living, working, innovation and leisure.
The development comprises two 200-metre-tall office towers, four residential high-rise buildings, a landscaped public plaza, an IT incubator, and a podium that links the buildings through retail, dining and public amenities. Positioned along the city’s cultural landscaped axis, the project supports Hangzhou’s long-term urban masterplan by creating a vibrant 24-hour neighbourhood.
The office towers feature distinctive 45-degree chamfered corners, improving views into the development while reducing the visual mass of the buildings. Designed to attract international technology companies, the towers include flexible office layouts, multi-level entrance lobbies, double-height sky gardens and operable windows that enable natural ventilation for approximately one-third of the year, helping reduce operational energy consumption.
The residential towers along Li’er Road incorporate stepped massing and slender floorplates to maximise daylight penetration and cross ventilation. Residents benefit from roof gardens connected by a 500-metre running track, alongside premium amenities including a fitness centre, swimming pool, nursery, healthcare facilities and private club. 
At the centre of the development lies a landscaped public plaza complemented by rooftop and sky gardens, providing approximately 14,000 square metres of green space. The adjacent IT incubator features terraced landscaping inspired by regional tea plantations, creating an innovative environment for technology start-ups.
Source: Foster + Partners with additional information added by Glass Balkan
