1000 Trees by Heatherwick Studio lit at night on Suzhou Creek, Shanghai

Heatherwick Studio’s 1000 Trees lifts a park onto columns above Suzhou Creek

In January 2022, Heatherwick Studio unveiled 1000 Trees, a mixed-use development in Shanghai designed to rise from the waterfront as two forest-capped mountains. In fact, the 15-acre site sits on a bend in Suzhou Creek. As a result, the river bounds it to the north, the M50 art district to the south and a small wooded park to the east.

Aerial view of 1000 Trees by Heatherwick Studio on Suzhou Creek, Shanghai — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

To begin with, the first phase brings shops, cafés, everyday stores, new public spaces and promenades. Moreover, it takes in an existing riverside park and a heritage structure on what was once a derelict factory site.

1000 Trees seen from the street with residential towers behind — Image: Qingyan Zhu

Planted terraces of 1000 Trees beside the riverside park — Credit: Qingyan Zhu

1000 Trees at dusk above Suzhou Creek — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

A Mountain of Trees

Today, more than 1,000 trees and 250,000 plants cascade across the structures. According to the studio, the planting therefore brings a significant net gain in biodiversity and helps create a microclimate that cools the site. In addition, footpaths weave around the lower terraces, and pedestrians can reach the buildings from every side, coming in, for instance, from the nearby district of Putuo.

Visitors on the lower terraces of 1000 Trees — Image: Qingyan Zhu

Planted column heads and terraces at 1000 Trees — Credit: Qingyan Zhu

Stepped green terraces of the 1000 Trees development — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

Café terrace at the foot of 1000 Trees in Shanghai — Image: Qingyan Zhu

For Thomas Heatherwick, 1000 Trees is inspired by the idea of making cities into social spaces. In other words, it breaks the large scale of a typical retail development into many smaller, human-scale places for the dense neighbourhood around it.

1000 Trees in the evening with blossom in the foreground — Credit: Tian An

Lit walkway beneath the planted terraces of 1000 Trees — Photo: Tian An

Trees on top of columns across the facade of 1000 Trees — Image: Qingyan Zhu

Columns That Lift a Park

First of all, the building follows a flexible nine-metre grid. The team then rotated it to open views to the river and to line up with the road boundary. At the same time, the cubic elements work like pixels, so they break down the scale of the buildings and interrupt the repetition of the towers in nearby streets. Instead of hiding the columns behind the facade, the design deliberately reveals them. As a result, they free up the interior and carry a park into the air, one tree at a time.

Columns topped with planters at 1000 Trees — Credit: Qingyan Zhu

Facade columns and hanging plants at 1000 Trees — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

Close view of tree planters on the columns of 1000 Trees — Image: Qingyan Zhu

Above all, each planter at the top of a column holds locally sourced deciduous, evergreen, fruit and flowering trees, together with shrubs and hanging plants. Meanwhile, blossoming species fill the lower terraces and the riverfront walkway. Altogether, these plants give the impression of a mountain slope that changes with the seasons.

Seasonal planting across the terraces of 1000 Trees — Credit: Qingyan Zhu

1000 Trees facade with columns, planters and glazing — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

Street Art From M50

Because the site sits next to M50, the city’s main art district, the whole southern facade consequently became a canvas for street art. In total, sixteen local and international artists took part, drawing the energy and traditions of M50 into the first phase. For example, French street artist Paul Dezio, who began spending time in the area in 2007, curated the work.

Furthermore, the artists painted 40-metre-high murals in the lift shafts, which visitors see through the glass cars. Since each shaft has its own artist, every zone has a distinct identity that, in turn, helps people find their way.

Painted lift shaft seen through glass at 1000 Trees — Image: Qingyan Zhu

Street art wall and columns at 1000 Trees — Credit: Qingyan Zhu

Mural on the southern facade of 1000 Trees — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

Southern facade of 1000 Trees with street art and rooftop trees — Image: Qingyan Zhu

Similarly, Lisa Finlay, Partner and Group Lead for the project, describes the aim as bringing together nature, commerce and wellbeing. In her view, 1000 Trees thus turns an ex-industrial site into a new destination that explores the links between art, landscape and architecture.

1000 Trees beside Suzhou Creek, Shanghai — Credit: Qingyan Zhu

Riverside promenade below 1000 Trees — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

Terraces and planting of 1000 Trees in Putuo, Shanghai — Image: Qingyan Zhu

From Model to Site

Finally, the studio’s models, renders and site photographs trace how the project developed, from early massing studies to the planted structure on the creek. Likewise, construction photographs show the columns and terraces taking shape.

Early massing model of 1000 Trees — Credit: Heatherwick Studio

Study models of the 1000 Trees modules — Visual: Heatherwick Studio

Aerial render of 1000 Trees in Shanghai — Image: Heatherwick Studio

Render of an external terrace at 1000 Trees — Credit: Heatherwick Studio

Columns with trees on the facade of 1000 Trees — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

Planted columns of 1000 Trees above the creek — Image: Noah Sheldon

Aerial photograph of the 1000 Trees site on Suzhou Creek — Credit: Noah Sheldon

Team on site during construction of 1000 Trees — Image: Heatherwick Studio

Construction view of 1000 Trees — Credit: Heatherwick Studio

The 1000 Trees site within the Shanghai skyline — Visual: Heatherwick Studio

1000 Trees under construction beside Suzhou Creek — Credit: Qingyan Zhu

1000 Trees seen across the river — Photo: Qingyan Zhu

1000 Trees from the creek at dusk — Image: Qingyan Zhu

Bridge over Suzhou Creek with 1000 Trees behind — Credit: Qingyan Zhu

Drawings

Sketch of 1000 Trees by Heatherwick Studio — Sketch

Level 2 plan of 1000 Trees — Level 2 plan

West section of 1000 Trees — West section

South facade elevation of 1000 Trees — South facade elevation

Project Credits

Project: 1000 Trees
Design: Heatherwick Studio / @officialheatherwickstudio
Design Director: Thomas Heatherwick
Project Leaders: Jimmy Hung, Thomas Impiglia
Client: Tian An China Investments Company LimitedExecutive and Local Architect: MLA Architects (HK) Ltd
Main Contractor: Shanghai Construction No. 1 (Group) Co Ltd
Façade Contractor: Shanghai Liaosheng Curtain Wall Engineering Co Ltd / EFC
Façade Consultant: EFC Engineering Co Ltd, Wah Heng Glass and Aluminium Products (Shanghai) Ltd
Landscape Contractor: Shanghai Jia Yuan Landscape Engineering Co Ltd
Landscape Consultant: URBIS
Structure: ARUP & SIADR
Lighting: Speirs and Major, LEOX Design Partnership
MEP Consultant: Palmer and Turner
Interior Contractor: Shanghai Dong Ni Architectural Decoration Co Ltd
Signage and Wayfinding: MODE
Art Wall Curator: Paul Dezio with Captive Media
Location: Suzhou Creek, Putuo, Shanghai, China
West Plot (Phase 1): 17,821 m² site, 62,706 m² above-ground GFA
Photography: Qingyan Zhu, Tian An, Noah Sheldon
Images and Drawings: Heatherwick Studio