Inside a ‘Dystopian’ Apartment Block Where That Houses Over 20,000 Residence

In Hangzhou, China, the Regent International apartment complex has captured global attention because of its enormous scale and its city like design. The structure rises six hundred seventy five feet into the sky and forms a sweeping S shape that dominates the surrounding landscape. It was designed by Alicia Loo, known for her work on Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, and it represents one of the most ambitious experiments in high density living anywhere in the world. With enough space for as many as thirty thousand residents, it ranks among the most densely populated residential buildings ever constructed.

At the moment, close to twenty thousand people call Regent International home. Inside its walls they find nearly everything they need for daily life. The building holds gyms, convenience stores, salons, food courts, small offices, and a wide variety of shops. The idea is to eliminate long commutes by placing daily necessities only an elevator ride away. This approach reflects a wider trend in Chinese cities, where hyper dense developments are becoming more common. These projects combine housing with built in amenities in an effort to address rapid population growth and limited urban land.