At first glance, Taikoo Li Qiantan at the heart of Qiantan international business district in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area is the embodiment of chic retail: housing luxury and lifestyle brands as well as art, culture, food, and beverage stores.

But as digging deeper, visitors would discover the naturalism and sustainability design concepts of the development which is the world’s first shopping mall that earns the WELL Certified Core at the platinum level -the pinnacle of health achievement for buildings.

Taking cues from its location -the southern riverfront of the Huangpu River, our team imagines the mall as “a unique water area” and brings natural elements into its design. From a bird’s-eye view, each structure on the site stands individually, like rocks in the river. The curved white-ribbon-like façade signifies the vibrancy of water. Intelligent systems such as all-day adjustable air-conditioning and AI apps are applied.

The wellness-focused construction adopts open-street retail to promote a comfortable, diverse experience for visitors. A central park, a rooftop running track, an elevated scenic bridge, and a vast amount of vegetation from the rooftop to the ground floor help foster a relaxing environment. Digital directory wayfinding design is employed, while a smart parking system improves traffic flow and management efficiency in the mall.