In the hills outside Chengdu, China, a sort of "floating city" is being built on the edge of a man-made lake. Crystal Laputa, designed by Hollywood, Calif.–based 5+ Design, will include three towers and a mid-rise building that hover over roads and waterways in a master-planned community called Luxelake.
Crystal Laputa
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This residential development was designed as a 'floating city' that hovers over roads and waterways on a man-made lake in Chendu, China.
Play slideshowOn the third level, the structures will be connected by an expansive green space that stretches over a street and features recreational areas and running trails. The towers also encourage residents to take advantage of outdoor space with private gardens they pass through upon exiting the elevator to enter their unit, imparting the feeling of a front yard. Several floors also feature outdoor swimming pools.
Balconies and rooms jut out from the edifices and provide all units with 270-degree, unobstructed waterfront views; 4,000-square-foot penthouses at the top of the towers have 360-degree views of the lake and rolling hills. The varied protrusions of the floor plans are intended to create a diverse appearance among the high-rises and dilute any sense of garishness.
The 150,000 square feet development includes a fitness center, a full spa, and a tea house that cantilevers over the marina. There are also automobile garages and boathouses available, as well as water taxis that take residents anywhere they wish to go.
