elemental complex

AQSO arquitectos office, public courtyard, hexagonal arrangement, urban space, garden, plaza, curtain wall, architectural design, facade, new development, retail, office, residential buildings, modular architecture

This masterplan stands out for its pleasing and unconventional use of geometry. Following a simple hexagonal grid, the buildings’ shape conveys the impression of a helix movement. The result is a dynamic occupation of space, that is an invitation to the residents, and an openness to the surrounding green areas.

Luis Aguirre
Sergio Blanco
James Tendayi Matsuku
Xiao Pu Liu

Building area: 115000 sqm
Location: Inner Mongolia, China
Client: Private developer

AQSO arquitectos office. The buildings occupy the plot in a hexagonal pattern. The hotel towers and offices are located in the north, while the urban density descends towards the south.

The complex grows in the northern centre of Hohhot, the thriving capital of Chinese Inner Mongolia. Here, most of the residential neighbourhoods follow conventional and repetitive schemes of constructions, with a North to South orientation. The Elemental Complex, instead, seeks a friendlier approach. Developed from a hexagonal grid, the buildings enjoy multiple orientations and vistas. The main achievement of this disposition is a creative and efficient exploitation of the residential space. Within their courtyards, the buildings embrace the public areas where social life can flourish.

AQSO arquitectos office. The concept of the residential complex follows a hexagonal pattern that branches out to occupy the plot, freeing up a generous proportion of public space.

Another advantage of such composition lies in a clever exploitation of light, and in a marked interaction of the buildings with the surrounding green areas. The peculiar orientation, in fact, allows a multiple, enhanced exposition to light, thus enriching the living experience within the residences. The arrangement of the buildings also welcomes the green courtyards within its sides, in an ideal mingling between nature and architecture.