China's new supertall skyscraper could end-up being one of its last

SKIDMORE, Owings and Merrill (SOM) has revealed its design for China’s latest supertall skyscraper.

The Greenland International Finance Center will become Nanjing’s tallest tower at just under 500 metres - surpassing Zifeng Tower, also designed by SOM. This will make it the tallest building in the Jiangsu Province.

Above: The tower incorporates the city's historic archways into its design (image courtesy of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill).

The 104-floor building has taken inspiration from the city’s architectural history, incorporating features from historic walls, gates and fortresses into its design.

The tower will also be a transportation hub, becoming a junction for subways, busses and pedestrian walkways.

Above: The building will become a transportation hub for the city. Below: The Greenland Center will push the limits of China's height restrictions (images courtesy of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill).

China recently imposed a ban on skyscrapers over 500 metres in height.

On 27 April 2020, China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued a Notice that introduced measures to “further strengthen the management of urban and architectural features”.

This effectively limits buildings to 250 metres in height, only allowing them to go higher when absolutely necessary.

Those that do are subject to strict reviews from the government must architecturally represent Chinese culture and history.

Above: The tower will be integrated at street level with a public garden (image courtesy of Skidmore, Owings and Merril).

With the release of the new Greenland International Finance Center we are beginning to see this policy in action.

The construction of such a massive project also highlights China’s emergence from the economic fallout of COVID-19. Many countries around the world have been green-lighting large scale construction projects in an attempt to boost their economies.

Learn more about China's skyscraper ban in our hit video: