Nine Flow Riverside Art Mall

China

May 31, 2025

Nine Flow Riverside Art Mall

Led by UUA Design Partner Yongzheng Li and Managing Partner Qizhi Li, the Nine Flow Riverside Art Mall was completed in September 2023 after five years of design and construction. Located along the Jiuliudu River in the Jinghu New District of Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China, the project has quickly become an architectural landmark. It blends fluid architectural forms with landscape design to reflect the winding urban fabric of this historic southeastern water town.

1. Project Background

Positioned at the heart of Shaoxing’s Jinghu New District, the site lies next to the financial zone, facing the city’s administrative center and library across the river. The design emphasizes low-rise, low-density development and integrated landscaping, aligning with its role as a mid-to-high-end commercial hub.

2. Geographical and Cultural Resonance

"This second project in the area offered a chance to approach design from a broader urban context," says Project Director Yongzheng Li. "We aimed to integrate with the city’s fabric, link neighboring developments, and engage public sentiment through the urban experience."

Drawing inspiration from the region’s distinctive waterway patterns and undulating terrain, UUA adopted a landscape-first strategy. The design introduces five “Orchid Pavilions,” symbolizing both the local topography and Shaoxing’s cultural tradition of orchid cultivation.

3. Contextual Integration

Surrounded by diverse urban structures, the project plays a transitional role. The north side uses a low-rise layout to minimize visual impact on the administrative center. The south boosts commercial activity to connect with the neighboring Suning Plaza. On the west, an axis square aligns with the entrance of The Exo Towers. Across the river, the smooth white façade and clean lines of the mall mirror the architectural style of the Shaoxing Library, establishing visual harmony.

4. Waterfront Activation

To enliven the riverfront, UUA reconfigured the original linear shoreline into a more dynamic shape and added a riverside walking path. Two new squares and a passageway now link city roads to the water, making the space more accessible and inviting.

5. Geometry and Facade Design

Using the underground garage grid as a base, UUA developed the building’s form through a combination of straight lines and tangent arcs—achieving a sense of spontaneity within a rational framework. The “Orchid Pavilions” feature louvers arranged in 60-degree (1/6 circle) groupings. Mirrored repetitions of these segments create the pavilions' undulating profiles.

6. Conclusion and Future Vision

UUA’s design begins with emotional connection, giving the architecture a sense of "temperature." Precision is achieved through integrated geometry, carefully developed from concept to detail. As public appreciation grows over time, the Nine Flow Riverside Art Mall is poised to become a defining urban landmark in Shaoxing.