nendo completes shanghai times square with curtain-like aluminum façade

with a design that prioritizes visual connection and the journey through spaces, nendo has completed the renewal of shanghai times square. located in the pudong district of the city, the project involves the reconfiguration of the existing commercial building to create a smoother shopping experience.

all images © takumi ota

accommodating 170 tenants, including fashion brands, lifestyle shops, and various restaurants, shanghai times square spans a total area of approximately 572,640 ft2 (53,200 m2) over 2 basement levels and 9 floors above ground. due to various interventions throughout the years, when nendo approached the project they found the building lacked connection and visibility.

the first element of nendo’s design was to straighten the central passage on the first floor to aid customers coming in from outside, while also relocating the escalators to secure circulation to upper floors for a smoother shopping experience. then, the atriums were rearranged to visually entice shoppers to the upper floors. this is achieved with each floor being gradually unveiled as the shopper ascends, creating a exciting journey through the building.

with this new spatial configuration, the experience of being in a theater came to the mind of the design team. the successive acts of passing through the ticket office and foyer, and then moving up to the upper floors to be greeted by a large theater, are extremely similar to the experiences found here. theaters are also generally designed so viewers in any seat have a good view of the stage, and here too, the structure is deliberately tiered to draw the eye. the shopper plays the role of an audience, viewing numerous brands, products, and events, while simultaneously performing on the stage as part of the interior.

continuing the notion of a theater, the elevations are clad in screens made of aluminum pipes to reference the draping of stage curtains. an image mirroring the draping design is also applied on the main pillars and stone wall finish. furthermore, nendo took the arch-shaped motif that frames the front of a stage – the proscenium arch – and actively applied it to partitions, furniture, and even lighting to bring an added softness and intimacy to the space.

box seating break areas protruding out to the atrium and a royal box-like VIP lounge were also added to strengthen the design concept. from the food court evocative of a piano keyboard, to a sundry shop floor with a spotlight motif, nendo has filled the interior with multiple elements reminiscent of a theater. last but not least, the facility’s interior signage plan was designed imagining the parting of curtains as the performance begins.