The Solar Trees Marketplace, designed by Koichi Takada Architects, is a visionary retail development located in Shanghai’s Minhang district. Completed in 2022, this three-storey mixed-use structure serves as a gateway to the expansive One Tian An Place Residential Masterplan by Tian An China. Spanning a total floor area of 3,450 square metres, the marketplace is thoughtfully designed to function as a sales display suite for the residential masterplan, with the flexibility to transform into a modular marketplace in the future.
Inspired by Shanghai’s rich landscape and forests, the design features thirty-two architectural ‘trees’ that rise from the ground, forming a canopy of timber branches above the marketplace. This forest concept not only echoes the green spine connecting the 155,000 square metre residential masterplan but also aligns with China’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, setting a new green benchmark for mixed-use residential developments.
The marketplace introduces a unique landscape to the Minhang district, demonstrating how a nature-inspired approach can transform one of the world’s most polluted and congested urban environments into a healthier and more sustainable place to live. The biophilic design incorporates environmental and sustainable initiatives, with timber branches and leaves of the thirty-two man-made trees providing shelter and shade while allowing natural light and fresh air to permeate the marketplace. Solar panels on translucent canopies generate power for the development, serving as a visual cue to Tian An China’s green agenda.
The inclusion of modular market stalls brings a sense of authenticity to the contemporary development, referencing their history as social and cultural gathering spaces and allowing a new generation to gather at its heart. Reflecting the Chinese tradition of making guests feel at home—bīn zhì rú guī—the marketplace generates a powerful sense of community and integrates the private and public domains.
Fifty camphor trees planted outside welcome the beginning of the green corridor that runs through the masterplan. Three thousand trees and shrubs indigenous to Shanghai, including white magnolia (Shanghai’s city flower), ginkgo, camphor, and Celtis sinensis, create a new and significant park. Colour coding of different plantings also acts to identify and distinguish neighbourhoods within the masterplan and offers a guide for residents to find their way home. The marketplace becomes an extension of the natural landscape, with the solar canopy filtering the sunlight to allow people to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of shopping outdoors.
Koichi Takada, Principal of Koichi Takada Architects, expressed the firm’s vision: “We want to humanise buildings in the district, to be more engaging to the public and contribute to the regeneration of communities and their neighbourhoods. We want architecture to celebrate cultural identity, along with encouraging pedestrian activities and a more walkable and liveable city.”
The Solar Trees Marketplace stands as a testament to the potential of architecture to reintegrate nature into urban environments, offering a sustainable and community-focused space that honours Shanghai’s natural heritage while embracing modern design principles.
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