Upcoming Futuristic Skyscrapers In Shenzhen

The design competition to build Tower C at the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Base, in China has been won by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA). Their multi-dimensional vertical city design consists of two naturally-lit towers that establish connections to the Shenzhen's urban intersections – namely the north-south green axis and the east-west urban alley.

The idea is to connect the proposed buildings with the adjacent parks and plazas, fusing them together into a terraced landscape which extends upwards between the two towers. Public are able to walk right into the heart of the building where cultural and leisure facilities are placed. Sweeping bridges link the towers together. These bridges are also designed as vantage points that provide panoramic views of the city.

Thanks to the advance 3D modeling tools developed by ZHA, the architects have better control over the architectural massing, buildings orientations, and façade-to-floor ratios. The final design stands at nearly 400m, wrapped with double-insulated curtain glazed walls. The buildings incorporate natural and hybrid ventilation with environmental control available on each floor.

In line with the district’s smart management systems and the city’s ambition to increase energy efficiencies and public well-being, external and interior conditions of the buildings will be constantly monitored, energy consumption will be adjusted via a smart building system. Other green design features of the buildings include water-collection and recycling, as well as photovoltaics. In addition, the aquaponics gardens situated on the terraces will biologically filter the surrounding atmosphere to reduce pollution.

Once completed, the proposed building will be an important economic contributor to the Chinese city of Shenzhen, serving Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. The project, which will act as a global technological hub that includes clusters of corporate headquarters, is planned to accommodate 300,000 employees every day. In addition to the business facilities, Tower C will also has multiple venues to host international conferences, exhibitions, and cultural programs, as well as residential developments.

著名建筑公司Zaha Hadid Architects（ZHA）最近赢得了在中国深圳湾超级总部基地C座高楼的设计竞赛。

它们的设计方案是将建筑物与邻近的公园和广场连接起来。公众可以直接踏入该建筑物的中心，那里也设有文化和休闲设施。几道桥梁将这两座摩天高塔连接起来。这些桥梁也被设计为可以观赏到深圳市的全美丽景色。

最终的设计高约400m，这些建筑物结合了自然通风和混合通风，并在每层楼进行了高科技环境控制系统。

根据该地区的智能管理策划以及深圳市为了提高能源效率和公共福利的雄心，将不断监控建筑物的外部和内部状况，并通过智能建筑系统来调整需要的能耗。建筑物的其他绿色设计特征包括收集雨水和回收利用，以及光伏发电。此外，位于露台上的花园将对周围的空气过滤，以减少污染。

建成后，这座非凡的建筑将成为中国深圳的重要经济區杻，服务广东，香港和澳门。该项目将每天容纳30万名员工。除了商务设施外，C座还将有多个场地，适合举办国际会议，展览，文化节目以及住宅用途。

SOM's Masterplan For Shenzhen

Establishing strong connections between urban and nature, tradition and innovation, and economy and culture, SOM has designed a master plan for the Central Area of Guangming District, Shenzhen, China. A new benchmark of ecologically integrated development, the project will lead the next generation of urban growth in the Greater Bay Area.

Located at the intersection of Shenzhen’s “emerald necklace” of protected natural landscapes that frame the city, and the eastern bank of the Pearl River Delta high-tech industry development corridor, the development is surrounded by mountains, water, and at a business node. Commissioned in 2018 to design the urban design master plan for the Guangming Central District, SOM has proposed to transform small-plot farmlands into Shenzhen’s premier sustainable urban district.

“Central to the success of the master plan is the integration of new open spaces that build upon existing topographical, hydrological and landscape systems of the area”. In fact, open spaces account for over 40% of the total project, with the Science Park as the centerpiece of the system, with a wide range of recreational, cultural, and unique agricultural uses. Moreover, the scheme blurs the boundaries of the Science Park in order to create a stronger overall landscape system that expands into the urban environment via streets, smaller open spaces and plazas, and within architecture.

The Transit-Oriented Development project is situated immediately adjacent to two new metro stations, while the commercial business district is situated at the eastern edge of Science Park, generating commercial offices, retail, residential and cultural uses; and the northern edge consists of retail, hotel, and residential uses. Finally, the southern neighborhoods provide a unique mix of cultural and sports-oriented uses that promote health, wellness, and active lifestyles.

Defining the image of the Central Area and highlighting the “ecological genes” of the district, the 23-hectare Science Park North site is the first phase of development at Guangming Central District. Designed to incorporate a landmark tower, cultural themed retail center, residential, and the Xuefu Hill Park, this area emphasizes the integration of architecture and landscape, creating an urban platform for healthy and sustainable living. The architecture of the start-up parcels will create a new icon for Guangming that represents both its agricultural heritage and its technology-driven future. Designed to optimize pedestrian flows and provide maximum connectivity between transit, living, and working within the North district, the proposal provides convenient access to retail, commercial and hotel uses for visitors and workers, and enhance the livability of the project for residents.

Source: Archdaily

Shenzhen Prince Plaza

Another iconic works by OMA although looks a bit conservative when compares to their previous works. Nevertheless, this tower enhance the skyline of Shenzhen.

Shenzhen's Slender Tower By Morphosis

Morphosis Architects latest works in Shenzhen is currently under construction. Through the folding of its steel structure, “Hanking Center Tower” merges commercial retail with private office space. It is a skyscraper designed with the notion of breaking away from conventional modern office buildings.

With innovative approach to circulation, social, and work spaces, Hanking Center Tower rethinks the traditional commercial office building typology. The project offers flexible tower office space anchored by high-end retail and dining in the podium. The tower brings density to the suburb of Nanshan and acts as a response to Shenzhen’s growing body of global professionals.

Located on a prominent piece of land along Shennan Boulevard, Hanking Tower’s slender profile redefines the local skyline. Conventional towers often have separate and disjointed volumes defining their various programs while Morphosis’s tower utilizes folded angles to elegantly merge public components in the podium with private commercial space in the tower. A grand plaza surrounds the tower’s podium enhancing public activity at the street level.

The interior is the result of an aspiration to create strong and humane communities with glazed lobbies and skygardens every five floors act as a communal hubs for use by all tenants. Space planning flexibility with natural light and ventilation offers healthier working environments. The masterpiece of the interior has got to be the sun-lit atrium that brings in nature into the building.

Shenzhen

Shenzhen is often overshadowed by its more popular cousin namely Hong Kong thanks to the close proximity between the two cities. But Shenzhen itself is an impressive city not inferior to Hong Kong.

Shenzhen's impressive skyline.

 

China's Futuristic Farmscrapers

Architects are often turned to when people search for a potential answer to our future cities and lifestyle. People like Leonardo da Vinci, Buckminster Fuller, Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright had all attempted to paint a picture of what our future might look like on their canvases.

Usually grand scheme are conceptualized whenever there is an undeerlying social problems that are waiting to be resolved. Shenzhen in China is one such city that is currently plagued by over crowded population, increasing pollution and chaotic uncontrolled development.

Asian Cairns, a masterplan featuring sustainable ‘farmscrapers’ or horticultural towers is the solution from Belgian-born, Paris-based architect Vincent Callebaut which he believes would solve all these issues. His concept is nothing new which is basically to incorporate sustainable design strategy into a highly sophisticated high tech building. 

Callebaut and his team are famous for their fancy building design such as their scheme for 1000 passive houses in Haiti and a twisting tower block for Taipei, Agora Garden.

Their proposed towers for Shenzhen has drawn inspiration for its design from cairns, those small piles of stones hikers like to make to mark their mountain trails. Each ‘pebble’ like module is constructed of steel rings and represents an ‘eco quarter’ with hanging gardens. These quarters are held in place by the building’s central spinal column. A conventional-looking block peaks out of each tower’s summit to house the planned apartments and offices. Wind turbines perched on the pebbles’ ledges to generate power for the building to be self sustainable.

Perhaps the architect's idealistic intention is best described through his words: “The Asian Cairns project synthesises our architectural philosophy that transforms cities into ecosystems, quarters into forests and buildings into mature trees, changing thus each constraint into opportunity and each waste into renewable natural resources!”

As I mentioned before, the concept is nothing new but its form is mind boggling and thought provoking if even just one of these towers is managed to be constructed in the near future.

Shenzhen Is Looking More Like Hong Kong

Public Plaza Shenzhen Gangxia

New York Style Skyscraper In Shenzhen

The Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in Manhattan are the classic symbols of New York at a time when the city was experiencing extraordinary growth. As the 21st Century has been widely labelled as the Asian Century, China will soon has its own Empire State Building of some sort in the form of Ping An Finance Center in Shenzhen.

Pure Fantasy Or Potential Solution

Location: Shenzhen, China

Architect: Callebaut Architectures

With our earth facing global warming effects that is certainly going to affect the lives of our next generation; will this proposal be the answer to save our planet or remain simply as the wildest dream of the architect?

Guosen Securities Tower

Architect: MVRDV

Location: Shenzhen, China

Height: 204 meters

Two Financial Towers Shenzhen

Architect: Collaboration of MA2 and CZ Visual Architecture

Location: Shenzhen, China

Function: Office Building