Longhu Financial Island
Zhengzhou, China
Client: Jiangsu Garden Exposition Park Development
Function: Retail / Museum / Exhibition / Entertainment / Multi-Family
Site Area: 741,000 sf
Total Floor Area: 43,000 sf
Building Height: 787 ft (240 meters)
Status: In Progress
Longhu Financial Island covers an area of about 1.5 square kilometers. The overall design of the area consists of one inner and one outer ring. While the inner ring is formed by arena-style buildings with a maximum height limit of 60 meters designed mainly for financial business and cultural entertainment, the outer ring is formed by high-rise buildings with a height limit 100 meters with a focus on business, financial office, hotel and service apartments. In the northern part of the area, there will be 240-meter-high twin towers, a supporting transportation hub for the surrounding areas, retail, office and entertainment facilities. The four plots of land along both sides of the inner lake axis will be used for cultural building projects.
The concentric ring layout of Longhu Financial Island organizes major civic and commercial functions—including galleries, museums, an activity center, office towers, and a convention center—around a central water body. The diagram illustrates the site’s internal circulation strategy and spatial relationships, highlighting how pedestrian flows connect cultural anchors with financial institutions across the site.
This early concept sketch explores the idea of twin towers encircled by a dynamic spiral ramp, symbolizing upward momentum and connectivity. The form is anchored by a water plaza described as “dancing water,” suggesting kinetic interaction between architecture and landscape. The sketch conveys a gesture of movement and theatricality—elements central to the site’s identity as a civic and financial landmark.
At the heart of Longhu Financial Island, the primary towers anchor the civic plaza with a fluid base and a transparent podium that blurs the threshold between interior and public realm. A stepped water feature cascades toward the boardwalk, enhancing the pedestrian experience while drawing attention to the reflective quality of the landscape. The massing composition accentuates verticality, while the softened corners and curtain wall detailing reflect a future-facing, urban sensibility.
The project weaves public waterfronts with civic, commercial, and cultural uses. Crescent-shaped venues frame a vibrant marina animated by water features and promenades. Bridges link programmatic zones, forming a layered architectural network that reflects the district’s economic and ecological vision.
The design of the Henan Art Museum draws direct inspiration from the ancient ritual vessel, the “Ding,” reinterpreting its powerful silhouette into a contemporary architectural form. Through bold geometries and symbolic layering, the building embodies a dialogue between China’s profound cultural heritage and its future-facing urban identity.
Anchored by a monumental oculus, the central atrium of the Henan Art Museum acts as a civic stage, blending architecture, sky, and public life into a single spatial experience. Dynamic reflections on the sculptural columns and the layered circular plazas create a fluid transition between exhibition, commerce, and open gathering, offering visitors an immersive encounter with light, culture, and the city beyond.
Anchored by twin luminous towers, Longhu Financial Island rises as a symbol of urban ambition and economic vitality. Sculpted forms echo across bridges and podiums, unifying the waterfront. By night, the island becomes a civic stage—reflections, fountains, and elevated walkways weaving together culture, commerce, and public life.
Longhu Financial Island is envisioned as a bold civic and financial hub centered on a circular lagoon and urban ring. Twin towers anchor the axis, while water features and radial promenades activate the edge. The plan balances density and openness, fostering innovation, commerce, and community along the lakefront.
