Architect believes that tall buildings benefit from social spaces

Chicago-based architect Jeanne Gang believes that, as cities become more densely populated, the need to incorporate social spaces into the design of tall buildings is crucial. Gang, who is internationally recognised for her innovative use of materials, along with her environmentally sensitive approach, uses terms like as “exo-spatial design”, solar carving”, and “bridging” to describe strategies for creating more socially connected tall buildings.

The architect, who visited Hong Kong last November to deliver a keynote presentation at the Business of Design Week (BODW), an event organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre, says these tools and concepts can address concerns about tall building typology, and can help architects design the cities people want to live in. “Finding ways to make something as ordinary as a balcony become something more social makes a big difference,” says Gang, the founding principal of Studio Gang Architects, and a MacArthur
Fellow.

In Chicago, known as the birthplace of the skyscraper, much attention has been given to the fact that Aqua, an 859-foot, 87-storey apartment tower designed by Gang’s studio and completed in 2010, was at that time the tallest building in the world designed by a woman.

Due for completion in 2020, Vista Tower, a new 1,100-foot skyscraper development project Studio Gang is designing in Chicago for China’s Dalian Wanda and The Magellan Development Group, is also believed by some to be the world’s tallest building designed by a female.

Gender-related accolades, of course, aren’t on Gang’s list of priorities. Her aim is to focus on being creative and inspirational in a way that benefits communities and social projects.

In a male-dominated profession, Gang’s studio bucks the trend by employing more females than males. “It’s just the way it is,” says Gang. “It’s nothing to do with gender, it’s about working with the best people.”