Perhaps best known as the “panda capital of the world,” Chengdu—now one of the most affluent cities in southwestern China due to its recent swift economic uptick—has evolved into a veritable hotspot among moneyed individuals looking to invest in some serious real estate.
Hoping to leverage the intensifying demand for ritzy residences in the Sichuan capital, Chinese developer Chengdu Wide Horizon Real Estate Development has charged Hollywood-based architecture firm 5+ Design with creating a plush, one-of-a-kind enclave on the outskirts of the city, inspired by the notion of a “vertical village.”
Dubbed “Crystal Laputa,” the “floating” high-end complex centers on three modular edifices—a pair of 30-story, 100-meter towers, and one 20-level, 70-meter podium—linked together by a string of elevated roads, walkways, and bridges.
Sheathed in glass and insulated metal, the buildings’ textured facades—though apparently random in configuration—are formed by “a series of interlocking units with occasional rotated floorplans,” eschewing the boring aesthetic of uniform, flat-faceted structures.
The complex offers three types of units: a 210-square-meter (~2,260-square-foot), double-height podium apartment outfitted with four bedrooms and a den (priced at $1,600 to $3,000 per square meter); a single-level tower spread ranging from 210 to 240 square meters with three bedrooms and a casita (listed at $3,000 to $5,000 per square meter); and a double-height tower penthouse spanning 370 to 400 square meters, comprised of six bedrooms and a guesthouse (tagged at $3,700 to $6,000 per square meter).
Every “Crystal” home—accessible via a personal elevator that leads into a garden entryway—is blessed with 270-degree scenic views and accompanied by at least one car parking space (depending on their apartments’ square-footage, tenants may be granted a second spot). Each equipped with an outdoor pool, the penthouses showcase large private terraces seamlessly blended with communal interior spaces (i.e. living rooms and family rooms).
“[Wide Horizon] had fairly specific requirements and worked with us through the entire process,” reveals studio principal Tim Magill, who adds that the developer’s on-staff architects had a huge hand in drafting the scheme, applying their knowledge of Chinese market trends in helping devise the best possible design solutions. Such strategies include the integration of high-efficiency lighting and smart grids for optimal energy management, and utilization of locally-sourced construction materials in order to lower costs and up sustainability.
Due to the buildings' strategic configurations, every resident will enjoy 270-degree views of the... [+]
The undertaking—which broke ground in 2014—is part of a larger development known as “Luxelake,” a venture spurred by Wide Horizon’s desire to form a distinct community centered around a man-made loch (once ailing, the natural pool was refilled in order to revitalize the waterways and canals that once existed in the region).
Now home to a thriving ecosystem, the lake’s waters—part of irrigation run-off—are organically filtered by aquatic wildlife before flowing downstream. “The restoration of the lake brings in a powerful environmental element and a real urge to connect residents with [nature],” Magill asserts.
While only some denizens will relish the convenience of docking their boats at marinas directly beneath their buildings, the entire community will enjoy use of a private fleet of on-site water taxis, which will allow residents to easily navigate and explore the glittering expanse at their leisure.
Some residents will be able to park their personal vessels at marinas situated at the foot of their... [+]
Tailored to provide not only a sumptuous lifestyle but also an environment that fosters interaction with the great outdoors, the plan is peppered with bicycle lanes and footpaths and incorporates several parks and recreational spaces. Perched on land bridges linking the three buildings, the green stretches—which will serve as venues for a host of regularly-scheduled programs and activities to be offered exclusively to tenants—form a “sky park” suspended three stories above the lake.
“Crystallites” will also have access to a number of communal indoor spaces, including a high-end club with a large banquet hall and small private suite; a fully-equipped fitness hub with sports courts; and a tea house cantilevered over the water, not to mention various retail, educational, and cultural facilities located at a Luxelake community center nearby.
“Residential towers are common, but one thing that a lot of other developments lack is a real sense of community… so we looked closely at the types of amenities that go into creating a real community and incorporated them [all into this project],” Magill says. “Sure it’s luxurious to stay and own one of these units, but it’s also a totally complete lifestyle.”
Investors hoping to score one of the high-class modules are out of luck for now, with every apartment having already been sold well before the development’s anticipated completion early next year. But if it’s any consolation, pieces of another “crystal” sprouting up in the city will likely soon be up for grabs...
