GoKawiilHangzhou's Westlake 66 complex features a facade designed for changing tenant uses
The Westlake 66 mixed-use development in Hangzhou, China, spans more than 2 million square feet across six towers and multiple blocks, combining offices, retail, hotels, and public space. Construction began in 2018 and finished earlier this year, during which the planned mix of uses shifted multiple times, prompting designers to create a facade system flexible enough to accommodate those changes.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The project suggests architects are increasingly designing building exteriors to absorb uncertainty in tenant mix and market demand rather than locking in a fixed program years in advance. This approach could offer a template for large mixed-use developments elsewhere facing similarly long construction timelines and shifting real estate needs.
- Westlake 66 covers over 2 million square feet across six towers in Hangzhou, China.
- The project's use mix changed repeatedly between its 2018 start and completion this year.
- The facade was engineered to adapt to these shifting tenant and use requirements.
Source: fastcompany.com, 2026-10-05
Published there as: “This building’s facade is endlessly adaptable”
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