We pushed for the inclusion of spaces that both the public and tenants could enjoy
– Chris Hardie, partner, SHL

The Vanke Times Centre in Beijing, has reopened after an extensive refurbishment by architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen (SHL), part of Perkins + Will.

The new space includes retail, art installations, exhibition space and a bamboo meditation garden, as well as extensive office space on the upper floors.

The architects have acted with public leisure in mind, adding elements such as the meditation garden, which is open to the public.

Chris Hardie, partner at SHL, said: “In addition to opening up the atriums and bringing a Scandinavian sensibility to the design, we pushed for the inclusion of spaces that both the public and tenants could enjoy.”

The meditation garden, with its white stone paths and bamboo forest, is naturally lit by a skylight, creating a place of restful escape.

Bamboo, glass and natural anodised aluminium are the three main materials used throughout the building, while a dramatic sculpture by French artist Charles Petillon called "CloudStorm" is suspended overhead.

The 47,000sq m (505,904sq ft) building has been pre-certified as LEED Gold.

Z+T Studio of Shanghai were responsible for landscape architecture on the project, while Beijing Vanke Co were the developers.