A square prism—the symbol used by the ancient Chinese to represent the earth—is intersected by two cosmic arcs, representing the heavens, as the tower ascends in gesture to the sky.  The interaction between these two realms gives rise to the building’s form, carving a square sky portal at the top of the tower that lends balance to the structure and links the two opposing elements—the heavens and the earth.


Soaring 101 stories above the city skyline, the Shanghai World Financial Center stands as a symbol of commerce and culture that speaks to the city’s emergence as a global capital. It features the highest occupied floor and highest public observatory in the world, and was recently recognized by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat as the Best Tall Building in the World 2008.

All Photographs courtesy of Mori Building Co., Ltd