Building C6 of the Novartis China Headquarters Campus in Shanghai—a contemporary architectural masterpiece—has gained wide recognition for its outstanding design and innovative application of advanced technologies, and stands as one of the representative works of Liu Jiakun, the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate. As the second Chinese architect, following Wang Shu, to receive the highest honor in international architecture, Liu Jiakun once again demonstrates through the C6 building his profound understanding of the balance between tradition and modernity, as well as functionality and aesthetics.
The architectural design draws inspiration from traditional Chinese pavilions. Its pronounced eaves and cantilevered balconies reinterpret classical architectural elements through a modern lens. An open spatial layout and non-fixed functional zones—including a central garden, interior courtyards, and indoor leisure spaces—provide employees with a flexible and vibrant working environment. Within the vertical atrium, a 31-meter-high green wall extends from the ground floor to the ceiling of the sixth level, introducing a strong sense of nature while significantly improving indoor air quality. Rotatable laminated bamboo louvers, inspired by the upper-hinged windows of traditional Chinese residences, allow daylight to be adjusted as needed, further enhancing the building’s overall energy performance.
In the façade design, Warmframe’s high-performance curtain wall thermal insulation blanket was adopted, delivering significant improvements in overall energy efficiency and condensation resistance. This technology effectively limits heat exchange between the interior and exterior environments, substantially enhancing the thermal-break performance of the building envelope. Applied throughout the curtain wall system, the solution helps maintain a consistently comfortable indoor thermal environment while reducing energy consumption. Its high-efficiency insulation performance lowers the operational load on heating and cooling systems, providing strong support for the project’s low-carbon and sustainable objectives.
In addition, the Warmframe curtain wall insulation blanket is a dual-certified NFRC product, offering strong environmental credentials. Both material selection and manufacturing processes comply with green building standards, further reflecting Liu Jiakun’s commitment to sustainable design. Through the integration of this technology, the project achieves an optimal balance between functionality, architectural expression, and environmental responsibility.
Material selection throughout the project further highlights the architect’s emphasis on sustainability and innovation. The building incorporates “recycled bricks” salvaged from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, along with high-performance low-emissivity (Low-E) glass. These materials not only demonstrate responsible resource reuse, but also ensure ample daylighting and interior comfort. The application of Warmframe’s high-performance curtain wall insulation technology adds a strong technological dimension to the project, positioning it as a benchmark for modern, green office architecture.
Through projects such as the Novartis China Headquarters Campus C6 building, Liu Jiakun has not only earned international recognition with the Pritzker Architecture Prize, but has also set a new benchmark for architectural practice in China. The success of both Liu Jiakun and the C6 building lies not only in the contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Chinese architectural culture, but also in the seamless integration of innovative technologies with sustainable design principles. The adoption of Warmframe’s high-performance curtain wall insulation blanket has delivered measurable energy-saving and environmental benefits, offering valuable reference and inspiration for the future development of green buildings worldwide.