All images courtesy of Aedas

The Olympia 66 shopping mall is the largest retail, lifestyle and leisure destination in Dailan, China, and is located in the heart of a prominent commercial and residential district at Wusi Lu – adjacent to the Olympia Square. Designed by international architecture and design practice Aedas for Hang Lung Properties, the complex spans seven storeys above ground, occupying a sprawling 63,400 square metre space.

Aside from its prominent location and scale, the mall is also iconic for its architectural scheme. The building is inspired by the carp – a freshwater fish that symbolises wealth and abundance in Chinese culture.

Best observed from an aerial perspective, the interplay of two swimming carps informed the unique architectural form, while internally, a dynamic circulation flow is generated through the various types of spaces in the mall, calling to mind the graceful movements of the carp. “Internal curving arcs resemble the dancing carp, with the expression of a series of simple shells with the tail flowing over the curving central spine,” says Aedas.

Layered roof shells create clear storey glazing, and introduces direct and reflected light into the atrium spaces. The largely insulated roof also prevents heat loss during winter and solar gain during summer, responding to the climatic conditions of northern China. “The roof blades also serves as a big light shelf to maximise reflected light down into the atrium spaces,” says Aedas. The project has a LEED Gold rating for sustainability.

The reflective scales of a carp is portrayed on the main building façade, defined by hexagonal modules that enable various lighting effects.

The retail route is littered with leisure activity and event spaces, enabling visitors to rest at a café, or visit an exhibition to escape the retail crowd. Segmented into open event and retail spaces, the large floor area is divided by a central spine that diagonally links the corner entrances.

At street level, a sequence of shop fronts offer retail visibility from ground level, opening up the building and enticing visitors. The building is surrounded by landscaped terraces that enhances the relaxed shopping environment.

Located east of People’s Square and west of Xinghai Square, with visibility from Zhongshan Lu and Wusi Lu, Olympia 66 is conveniently placed with a link to the new underground railway.

A digital signage is positioned toward the top of the building, allowing visitors to find the shortest route to the building from within the vicinity. Multiple entrances into the mall also enhance urban connectivity and integration within the district. They are prominently featured around the building, leading to in-between spaces that offer customers a moment of respite, before they arrive within the sprawling space.

Thoughtfully designed with consideration to the urban context, the iconic architectural scheme of Olympia 66 by Aedas is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, offering locals a city destination to be proud of.

Aedas
aedas.com