Sowing the seeds of change in China

Design practice Broadway Malyan has secured the contract to create a global headquarters for high-yeielding rice-seed producer Grand Agriseeds Technology, on China’s Hainan Island.

The headquarters will also include research and development facilities, hospitality capacity, and a visitor centre at the 35 acre site, which is between the the Qixianling Seven Angels mountain ridge and a valley of terraced rice fields.

The centre in China’s southernmost provice, is expected to become a global centre for hybrid rice research, a showcase for sustainable development, and an international leisure destination.

Broadway Malyan said its design would maximise views of the ridge and the valleys below for visitors staying in new luxury private villas, large-format club-house villas and a luxurious five star resort hotel, operated by the Intercontinental Hotel Group and including conference and spa facilities.

It will also include a new museum of hybrid rice, showcasing new production technologies, global solutions and the story of rice cultivation in Asia.

Broadway Malyan said it was now developing the concept design, and that detailed design work was due to commence in the early summer for construction to start in early 2013.