Architecture studio Weico has completed a headquarters for Chinese electric car brand XPeng in Guangzhou, China, with a roof that forms an X.
Located in Guangzhou’s Tianhe district, Weico designed the cluster of angular office buildings to house 13,000 of the brand’s employees.
The headquarters is located in the Tianhe district of Guangzhou
The large headquarters is formed of two angular office blocks that rise in height from the southern end of the site, where the block’s size was determined by a height restriction due to the proximity to of a heliport.
Both blocks were wrapped around courtyards that each contain multiple terraces of varying sizes with large trees and stepped seating areas. There is also a five-a-side football pitch.
Two courtyard office blocks are connected via an elevated platform in between
The courtyard office blocks are connected by a low-level building toped by another planted and stepped terrace. Generous staircases were created along the facade of the main buildings, providing casual meeting and resting points.
Where the blocks join they create an X shape, which is highlighted by the rooftop photovoltaic panels, as a nod to XPeng‘s name and logo.
The roof outline of the two office blocks creates an X from above
Along with office space, the headquarters contains research and development centres, reception spaces, showrooms and a testing centre.
On the ground floor various more public functions were arranged along the north-south axis through the building. These include conference facilities, an exhibition centre, sales showrooms, fitness centre, post office and even a small hospital.
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Almost half of the 50,000-square-metre basement level of the main office building contains the staff canteen.
This dining area was arranged around four central courtyards that are lit from above ensuring plenty of day light and fresh air fill in the otherwise dark space.
The building complex gently rises from south to north
“In the era of AI-driven smart mobility, architecture is required to be more flexible, interconnected, and experiential,” said the Beijing-based studio.
“The headquarter is no longer a traditional administrative office container; it is evolving into a ‘super connector’ – integrating design with industrial research and development, connecting AI exploration with social applications, stimulating innovation, and closely relating to the consumer market,” it continued.
Outdoor staircases link various office floors and the underground canteen
A large underground corridor was created to connect the office complex to the nearby Cencun subway station.
Several surrounding buildings contain a flagship store, shared conference centre and a flying car take-off and landing site, each within a separate building.
Top-lit courtyards bring light into the space
Weico was founded by Sun Wei in 2021, it also recently completed a super factory for Xiaomi, another electric car brand in China.
Elsewhere in China, Team BLDG has converted two rural homes outside Shanghai into a guesthouse, while HCCH has designed a doughnut-shaped viewpoint and pavilion in Huizhou.
The photography is by Arch-Exist.
Project credits:
Gross floor area: 360,000 square metres
Architect-in-charge: Sun Wei
Project directors: Sun Mingze, Wang Deyuan
Project team: Sun Wei, Sun Mingze, Wang Deyuan, Duan Yun, Sun Chen, Zhou Jingyi, Zhang Lining, Zhao Yue, Zeng Lingyue, Peng Shijie
Local design institute: Shenzhen Capol International & Associates Co
Facade consultant: SuP Engineering Consulting (Beijing) Co.
Lighting consultant: RDI Lighting
Landscape consultant: Guangzhou S.P.I Design Co
Interior design: Cheng Chung Design
Contractor: China Construction First Building (Group) Corporation Limited
Exhibition design and construction: Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture Technology Co