Vanke Hengbang Tower in Xiamen emerges as a vertical composition inspired by the forms of nature, particularly a pine forest. Designed to harmonize with the surrounding urban context, the tower draws on the idea of trees growing towards the sky, using reflectivity to visually dematerialize its mass as it rises. The base resembles a dense woodland, from which the “trunks” structural and spatial elements extend upwards to form the main volume. This approach fosters a sense of fluidity between architecture and nature. The design process placed great emphasis on concept development through collages and photomontages, establishing a visual dialogue between verticality, fragmentation, and material expression. The design scope included architectural and interior conceptual and schematic design, as well as façade development, with a strong focus on material research. EMBT’s role involved supporting the local consultants and design institutes throughout the proposal stages. The total design fee was €230,000, with the project conceived as a private commission by a real estate developer in China.
