The well known American architect Robert Stern is behind this new project developed by Vanke, a major real estate multinational, in the Chinese city of Hanzhou , which is due to host the G20 summit in November 2016.
Metropolis 79 is a residential complex with a tower at each of its four corners, which have become an elegant and harmonious feature of the skyline. It's a neo-classical gem, blended with some of the most characteristic features of Chinese Xihu (West Lake) architecture.
The project forms part of a wider regeneration programme for Hangzhou, which has seen the redesign of the entire centre, along the banks of the River Qiantang, and spawned numerous charismatic skyscrapers such as the 'Sun and Moon' and a new version of Fisherman's Wharf.
Vanke is fostering a distinctly international dimension, which finds expression in its partnerships with major architects from all over the world, and in the development of new projects outside China. That's why the company decided to take part in Expo Milano 2015 with a Pavilion designed by Daniel Libeskind and built using Casalgrande Padana tiles. It also recently announced its intention to open a base in Milan in the near future, as a platform for its expansion into other western countries.
