British architecture studio Foster + Partners has completed two skyscrapers for drone manufacturer DJI in Shenzhen, China. The two towers, which are connected by an open-air suspension bridge over 100 meters above the ground, are known as DJI Sky City.
DJI Sky City consists of a pair of 200-meter-high skyscrapers that house the headquarters and innovation center of Shenzhen-based robotics company and drone specialists DJI. The cantilevered blocks contain column-free office spaces that were made possible by the building’s external truss systems. Some of the column-free interior spaces contain four-storey high dedicated drone flight testing labs.
The ground floor houses the building’s public facilities, including a community healthcare center, as well as its lobbies that each contain an indoor “zen” garden that extends from a rammed earth feature wall. According to the studio, the floorplates were organized to maximize daylight in the interior spaces while its twin lift system maximizes internal office floor area.
At the top of the buildings, each of the cantilevered volumes has rooftop gardens with views across Shenzhen as outdoor spaces for DJI employees.
The towers are clad in a glass curtain wall that is designed to reflect the surrounding environment. The towers are also equipped with a number of sustainable features, including rainwater harvesting and solar panels.
DJI Sky City is a landmark project for Shenzhen and for Foster + Partners. The towers are a symbol of the city’s rapid growth and development, and they are a testament to the studio’s ability to design innovative and sustainable buildings.
