RMJM RED has been appointed by Agricultural Bank of China as the Architectural Consultant of their Ningbo Branch. The design proposal was presented to the client as part of an international design competition that included the notable Danish firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen. RMJM's design was awarded first prize.
The Agricultural Bank of China Ningbo Branch project, located along the primary urban street in Ningbo, China has a total GFA of 90,000 sqm and was designed in accordance to challenging brief conditions as well strict urban design guidelines. With a height restriction of 40 metres, the building will be constructed in two phases, and aims to provide services and engaging spaces for working and urban frontage within the area.
The overall appearance of the bank building is civic and formal in nature to respond to the municipal and administrative buildings to the south side of the site. The building creates a direct relationship with the streetscape on three faces of the building, intending to solidify its place as a landmark building on street level within its context. The utilization of terracotta as a façade material coupled with robust massing offers to demonstrate the strength and stability of the bank. On the courtyard facades select glass panels are inclined in a diagonal flow to symbolise the flow of water as this represents the core value of the Agricultural Bank of China to create business that is sustainable with a focus on development in the field of agriculture.
