Crystal District is a project for a mixed used area that include: commercial shops, offices and research laboratories, conference facilities and a technology and innovation centre.
The form of the buildings and the masterplan draw inspiration from the many sides of the crystals.
The crystalline geometry of the architecture forms a series of angular shapes, helping to create a confident architectural focal point for the area. The design does not have front and back facades or a traditionally defined roof but has been conceived as a set of facets which creates a striking impression when viewed from street level and when seen from above.
The envelope of the crystal-shaped design aims to both reflect the building's context whilst also having a degree of transparency to help connect the building with its surroundings.
The project achieves this by using different types of highly insulated glass with varying levels of transparency, allowing spaces to be naturally lit whilst controlling solar gain. This careful use of translucent and mainly opaque glazing has been designed to minimise the running costs of the building.