The Wenzhou Lucheng Plaza is a super-tall mixed-use project designed by the internationally renowned architectural firm SOM, located on the banks of the Ou River in Lucheng District, Wenzhou. It integrates commercial, hotel, apartment, office, and urban plaza into a vertical metropolitan structure.
Project Overview
Height and Scale
The total height of the project is 389 meters (originally planned at 350 meters, later increased to 379 meters, and finally adjusted to 389 meters), with 79 floors above ground and 4 floors below ground, covering a total construction area of approximately 380,000 square meters. It will be the third tallest building in Zhejiang and the tallest in Wenzhou, expected to be operational by 2028.
Functional Zones
Top (67-79 floors): The first Ritz-Carlton hotel in southern Zhejiang, featuring a rooftop observation deck with views of the Ou River and the city skyline.
Middle (50-66 floors): Luxurious cloud apartments designed by international teams including 1508 London, with main areas ranging from 395 to 1350 square meters, totaling only 291 units.
Bottom (1-15 floors): Approximately 79,000 square meters of GT PLAZA high-end shopping center, 27,000 square meters of urban vitality plaza, and commercial facilities.
Underground: Approximately 9,000 square meters of high-end club and underground parking.
Combining a hotel, residences, and offices, this mixed-use tower on the Oujiang River will be the tallest in the port city of Wenzhou.
This multifunctional tower located on the banks of the Ou River will become the tallest building in the port city of Wenzhou, integrating hotel, residential, and office spaces.
Design Highlights
Innovative Concepts by SOM
“Eye of the Ou River” tower crown: The top “gate” shaped crown is designed in golden ratio, inspired by Wenzhou’s intangible cultural heritage of lantern weaving, resembling an “eye” overlooking the Ou River.
Dynamic Light and Shadow on the Facade: The north and south facades transition from glass curtain walls to woven texture curtain walls, reflecting daylight and river views, while the east and west facades feature vertical metal sunshades, combining functionality and artistry.
Suspended Glass Volume: The banquet hall on the north side spans across Triumph Road, designed with a lightweight glass curtain wall to alleviate the sense of mass, becoming a landmark at the city entrance.
Integration of Local Culture
The sky lounge incorporates patterns of Ou embroidery and Ou kiln art installations, while the commercial atrium displays local cultural elements, showcasing the collision of tradition and modernity.
Construction Progress
September 2024: The core tube breaks through the 200-meter mark, with the outer frame construction reaching the 39th floor.
May 2025: The core tube advances to the 65th floor, with some glass curtain wall installations completed.
June 2025: The first launch of the luxury apartment “Lijin” marks the official debut of the project.
A beacon from the ground up
The 75-story tower design continues SOM’s history of merging function and form. It updates the classic columnar skyscraper with elegant proportions that reflect the stacking of various uses inside: offices, residences, and a hotel.
This 75-story tower design continues SOM’s tradition of merging function and form. It reinterprets the classic columnar skyscraper with elegant proportions, reflecting the stacking of various uses inside: offices, residences, and a hotel.
The ground floor lobby is enclosed in clear glass and illuminated from within, giving the appearance of a lantern. The space extends 25 meters high and gives the building an unmistakable presence on Jingbin Road. Within the lobby, three floors are suspended from the roof by hanging columns—a design that accentuates the dramatic impact of this lofty and luminous space.
The first-floor lobby is enclosed in transparent glass, well-lit from within, resembling a lantern. This space is 25 meters high, giving the building a unique presence on Jiangbin Road. Inside the lobby, three floors are suspended from the roof by hanging columns—this design further highlights the dramatic effect of this lofty and bright space.
Economic and Urban Significance
Commercial Engine
The commercial area reserves space for Wenzhou business headquarters, and the Ritz-Carlton hotel will host international conferences, promoting Wenzhou’s upgrade from “local manufacturing” to a “global resource allocation center.”
Cross-river linkage with the southern bank Asian Games area, creating a “business + sports + cultural tourism” golden triangle.
Cultural Symbol
As a core project of the “Demonstration Zone for High-Quality Development of Private Economy,” the project embodies the spirit of Wenzhou’s reform and opening up with the image of a “lighthouse,” becoming a tangible expression of the city’s spirit.
Reflecting its surroundings
The north and south facades of the tower transition from a simple glass skin to a woven texture toward the top, which animates the facade by mirroring its surroundings in unexpected ways. The upper and lower surfaces of the woven curtain wall reflect the colors of the sky and city, evoking the glimmering Ou River. The east and west facades are composed of vertical steel fins that improve the thermal performance of the building by regulating heat gain, while reflecting light across the glass curtain wall and accentuating the structure’s verticality.
The north and south facades of the tower transition from a simple glass skin to a woven texture toward the top, which animates the facade by mirroring its surroundings in unexpected ways. The upper and lower surfaces of the woven curtain wall reflect the colors of the sky and city, evoking the glimmering Ou River. The east and west facades are composed of vertical steel fins that improve the thermal performance of the building by regulating heat gain, while reflecting light across the glass curtain wall and accentuating the structure’s verticality.
Design Team and Collaboration
Lead Design: SOM (the design team of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai).
Other International Teams:
UK’s Avalon Collective (apartment lobby), AB Concept (club), 1508 London (interior design).
Japan’s Masahiko Kobayashi (landscape design), Lead8 (commercial design).
The tower culminates in a permeable crown, described as the “Eye of Ou River.” Its sloping parapet completes the harmonious composition, balancing the tower’s proportions while funneling wind away from the roof deck. The crown also allows for the creation of two distinct outdoor rooms at the north and south sides with unrivaled views of the river, rolling hills, and city.
The tower’s top is a permeable crown, referred to as the “Eye of Ou River.” The sloping parapet completes the harmonious composition, balancing the tower’s proportions while directing wind away from the roof deck. The crown also allows for the creation of two distinct outdoor spaces on the north and south sides, offering unparalleled views of the river, rolling hills, and city.
Conclusion
The Wenzhou Lucheng Plaza, with a height of 389 meters and a vertical three-dimensional model, redefines the urban skyline, integrating top global designs with local culture, becoming an important symbol of Wenzhou’s move towards internationalization. Its construction progress and business layout continue to attract global attention, and it is expected to further enhance the regional economy and urban image after it becomes operational.
Client: Greentown Real Estate Group Co. Ltd.
Site Area: 132,325 square meters
Building Height: 379 meters
Number of Stories: 75
Building Gross Area: 492,000 square meters