Originally built in the 1980s, the Zhangjiang Cement Plant in Shanghai left behind a distinctive industrial landscape of silos, pipelines, and factories. NODE was invited to design two research and office buildings on lot G5 and G6 of this site.

Given the large-scale demolition of the old industrial fabric, the challenge was how to retain traces of industrial memory while meeting contemporary office demands. The design proposes the concept of “Juxtaposition”: pragmatic, standardized office spaces are paired with reconstructed silo forms, creating a collage between history and the future. One set of silos, rendered in red concrete, is sliced open to reveal its interior and fitted with a free-flowing public stair, providing the office users with a space for rest and view. The other set, built in silvery-grey steel, combines circulation with social interaction. Besides, interwoven with green landscapes, two sets of silos create an environment both tranquil and vibrant, addressing the needs of research professionals while sustaining and regenerating the cultural symbol.