IFC (Guangzhou International Finance Centre)

Welcome to the heart of Zhujiang New Town, where we stand before one of the most significant architectural achievements of twenty-first-century China. The Guangzhou International Finance Centre, commonly referred to as the I-F-C,…

Let us pause here at the base of the tower to analyze its most distinctive structural feature: the diagrid. If you look closely at the glass facade, you will see a series of intersecting diagonal steel members forming a giant…

Moving toward the eastern side of the complex, we arrive at the business entrance. This is the pragmatic core of the I-F-C. …

Now, let us walk around to the western side of the building, which serves as the primary entrance for the Four Seasons Hotel. Immediately, you will notice a change in the sensory environment. …

Upon arriving at the seventieth floor, you emerge into what I consider to be one of the most breathtaking interior spaces in modern architecture: the Four Seasons Atrium. This is where the 'hollow' heart of the I-F-C is revealed. …

We now ascend to the ninety-ninth floor to visit the famous Tyen Bar, or 'Tien' as it is phonetically transliterated. In Chinese, the word 'Tien' translates to 'Sky,' and as soon as you step out of the elevator, the reason for…

The true centerpiece of any visit to the I-F-C's upper levels is the view, particularly the direct line of sight to the Canton Tower. From the ninety-ninth floor, you have what many consider to be the best vantage point in the…

As we descend back to the ground level and step out once more into the warm Guangzhou air, take a final look back up at the International Finance Centre. We have journeyed through the steel diagrid that holds this giant aloft,…