Shanghai’s history as a cultural and commercial capital rivals the world’s most celebrated cities. Bisected by the Huangpu River–a manmade tributary of the mighty Yangzi River–cosmopolitan Shanghai is now stretching beyond its traditional boundaries, providing opportunities for new development catering to worldly Chinese and Shanghai’s large expatriate community.
Enter Vanke’s Riverside-Metropolitan project, designed by renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern of New York, landscaped by Philadelphia-based OLIN, and detailed immaculately by Lorenc+Yoo Design.
The designers’ charge was to unite the respective characters of both sides into a single ethos for 21st century Shanghai.
Riverside-Metropolitan is a high-end residential community with extensive shopping and recreational amenities. As its name suggests, Riverside-Metropolitan sits along the eastern bank of the river in Pudong, Shanghai’s commercial center and home to its towering skyline.
Lorenc+Yoo Design created the project’s logo identity, selecting an art deco-inspired typeface to create an eight-pointed star by reflecting a capital M four ways. The logo was integrated into Robert A.M. Stern’s exterior entrances, including onto sconces attached, the courtyard, the colonnade, and into the entry gateways. The approach was to enhance eye level impression with a unified brand message.
Lanterns, directional signs, tree grates, and light bollards each became opportunities for brand identity and enhanced perceived value. The design team developed a retail signage standard to project harmonious consistency, as well as brand-enhancing canopies and planters.
Perimeter gates and entrances for both pedestrians and vehicles all feature recognizable branding and design details so that visitors sense the place’s design consistency from the beginning.
Detailed touches such as this communicate quality, sophistication, and value beyond the typical interests of location and price. They create an entire experience of what it means to live at Riverside-Metropolian.
Riverside-Metropolitan is a powerful symbol of Shanghai’s growing prominence in the world. The project continues Vanke’s longtime association with Lorenc+Yoo Design in making extraordinary environments in China.
