The Aixi project is situated on the north eastern side of Nanchang in Jiangxi Province south eastern China, the 30,000sqm plot is adjacent to Aixi lake which is one of the major recreation water-scape’s of the city. The master plan components consist of four 60m 18 floor residential towers totaling 30,000 sqm with an apartment size mix varying from 160sqm to 260 sqm. One five star hotel with 230 rooms covering 20,000 sqm, and a prestigious ‘green’ platinum 60m government office building of 20,000sqm over 14 floors at an efficiency of 82%. The residential component is arranged along the typical North South axis of orientation. The four blocks are staggered across the site from north west to south east in an effort to increase the lake views and reduce the massing impact on the skyline, and thus avoiding overshadowing either to or from any adjacent development. The staggering also aids wayfaring and identification for residents and visitors alike on approach. There is a strong vertical emphasis to the stone cladding, and this is used to express a harmonic balance between solid, transparent and void, which integrates the balconies into the vertical expression. This expression is a direct reflection of the apartment layouts. Each apartment has a social living balcony as well as a ‘working’ balcony for ac units etc. The top of the buildings are reserved for double ht penthouses which all have a mezzanine level and a private central courtyard garden at the level of the lift motor room. The ceremonial or official drop off for the residents accessed from the entry ramp off the surface road to the east. This leads to an open courtyard on the below grade parking level between each of the towers. This open sunken courtyard allows for direct and immediate convenient access to the 9m tall entrance foyer of each building. Thus the sequence of pick up and drop off is via a route protected from the elements and with an emphasis on privacy, exclusivity and ease of direct access parking. To emphasize identity, each entry is color coded to match that of the buildings allocated parking. This Project was executed as a Global Design Leader at Woods Bagot.