Hangzhou Prism

蓝夜 (Blue Night) is a short film directed by Rei Nadal, created in collaboration with Chinese musician Coil Sprite and OMA. Inside OMA’s Hangzhou Prism, Coil Sprite plays through the night, discovering the building through her performance.

The Hangzhou Prism, designed by OMA/Chris van Duijn, has been completed. Commissioned by Xinhu Real Estate Group for the Future Tech City district, the Prism is OMA’s first built project in Hangzhou.

The Hangzhou Prism comprises a 43,000-square-meter space that houses a hotel, residential units, offices with urban amenities, and a public square within a highly legible form. Defined by two oblique cuts through its volume, the Prism takes the shape of a pyramid whose silhouette is immediately recognizable against the skyline. The incisions visually connect the Prism to the new high-speed rail station located to the northwest and a park to the southeast. Individual terraces for each loft provide private outdoor spaces with expansive views across Hangzhou and the surrounding landscape.

Situated at the core of Hangzhou’s Future Tech City, the project challenges the separation between a private program and the urban realm. The Prism is connected to the surrounding streets, canal, and park and invites the public to enter its open site. At the building’s base, a large exterior atrium forms the civic core: a publicly accessible square that is an extension of the park and other public urban spaces, providing an environment for events, both spontaneous and organized. This shared space establishes a porous relationship between the Prism and the city.

The design accommodates a diverse range of programs and users. Private and collective spaces are carefully balanced. The elevated lofts provide retreat and exclusivity, while the garden and distributed outdoor terraces foster interaction. Communal spaces are embedded throughout the project, enabling interaction between residents, hotel guests, workers, and visitors. Rising to a defined apex, the Prism establishes a strong visual presence, reinforcing its role as a landmark for Hangzhou’s emerging central business district.