Office Development Dalian - China
DMA won an international design competition for this project in 2010. A new office building for the Dalian Electric Power Bureau in the port city of Dalian in northern China.
The 50,000sqm building houses the administrative and operational requirements of the power bureau and is located at the edge of the Dalian CBD on reclaimed harbour side land.
Unusual for an energy provider, the clients were open to the use of green technology in the building design. The building embraces low energy initiatives in the form of a twin wall facade system that insulates and captures air to be used in the building's HVAC system.
Other green initiatives include passive solar orientation to minimize heat load, narrow building depth to maximize natural light penetration, rainwater collection to service toilets and landscape irrigation and a 'green' roof to the podium providing good insulation and active and passive recreation spaces for staff.
The architectural form and detail conveys an appropriate municipal character while the 'light box' facade section expresses the company's purpose via power transmission grid imagery. The harbour side heritage is acknowledged with a large water feature 'wharf' element extending from the street, across the forecourt and through the entrance lobby.
(c) 2012 DMA Group Architects