Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, a New York-based global architecture firm, announced today (September 2) the recent opening of Palace 66. The 1.2-million-sq.ft., retail project, located in Shenyang in the Shenhe District of Zhongjie, is expected to increase the vitality of the commercial and cultural region.

Overall, the design aims to showcase a successful mix of ancient tradition and modern architecture, drawing inspiration from the neighboring Imperial Palace, built in the16th century. The building features a skin of glass and metal screens, which connect the interior to external activity, as well as glaze and deflected roofs that reflect the city’s history and provide natural lighting in the public gathering spaces and atrium. Multiple entrances position Palace 66 as a hub for pedestrian traffic.

KPF Design Principal James von Klemperer says in a statement, “The upward curves of the nested roofs seem to defy gravity, yet are reminiscent of the nearby Imperial Palace.”

In addition to being aesthetically contemporary, Palace 66 features the latest sustainable features—such as a photovoltaic power system, high-performance glazing, ground-source heat pumps, and a grey water recycling system—which reduce energy use by 20 percent and water consumption by 40 percent annually. Palace 66 is expected to gain the retail center a LEED Gold rating by the end of 2010.

“The retail center is really an “anti-box” – it features open corners, green terraces, and one of the world’s largest field of operable solar louvers,” describes von Klemperer in a statement.

“The roof system functions as a piece of sustainable infrastructure, transferring multiple systems that supply solar power, reduce heat, provide outdoor gardens and bring natural light into the depths of the building,” according to KPF director Jeffrey A. Kenoff.

Prior to its completion, Palace 66 was awarded the Future Project Award Commendation from Le Marché International des Professionnels de l’Immobilier (MIPIM) Asia in 2007.

 

 

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