Also known as the 1,000 Trees Project, situated near Shanghai Railway Station, alongside Suzhou Creek.
Designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick, this looming green structure draws inspiration from China’s Huangshan Mountains and the mythical Hanging Gardens of Babylon, fusing nature with futuristic design. This structure consists of 250,000 plants and 1,000 thin concrete columns, each topped with a tree, creating the illusion of a floating forest. It includes 400 steps, each contributing to the layered, organic look.
Within this massive building resides a large shopping mall, multiple art galleries and restaurants, along with rooftop terraces and riverside paths for public enjoyment and leisure. The mall within follows the vertical lane concept, meaning that the mall reimagines these narrow communal spaces into a vertical format, guiding visitors and tourists through layered terraces and interconnected paths. The lower levels are where the cafes, quick-service restaurants, and high traffic retail stores are. Mid-level is where all the boutique shops, art galleries and cultural exhibits are. The top level is where all the rooftop terraces, fine dining and event spaces are located, along with a beautiful view of the entire Suzhou Creek. At the heart of the mall is a Chinese classical inner garden, blending modern with traditional and serene landscaping. It acts as a central node and peaceful retreat from the urban buzz.
Sky Garden nightview
At night, the structure lights up, golden beams reflecting across the water.
The idea behind this structure was that people should encounter parks, art, and gardens as naturally as they do with shops and restaurants on the street. Local artists contribute to the visual storytelling, with multiple murals and sculptures distributed and embedded throughout the layers of the mall. This structure can also be seen as a symbolism of the increasing development of eco-friendly structures, for this Sky Garden in Shanghai is not the only eco-friendly structure in China. Another structure in Shanghai is the Shanghai Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the world, and another beacon of sustainability. In Baoxi, Zhejiang resides Bamboo Town, a showcase of bamboo architecture, blending old historical architecture with modern sustainability.
This building is not like many other malls. Culture transformed this mall from a place of consumption and spending to a place of exploration and leisure, allowing visitors and tourists to wander through the art, history, the gardens, and to walk the riverside sidewalk, going from a simple mall to a destination.
