Shenzhen Capol International & Associates and MLA+B.V. collaborated to win the design competition for the Shenzhen Construction Industry Ecological & Intelligent Valley Headquarters.
The project, which is located in Daiyuen Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Science-Education City, benefits from abundant natural resources, including Yingju Mountain and Shenxianliang. Because of the surrounding expressways, the plot has been divided into five sections, scattering the functions. To improve connectivity for the 14-hectare plot, the planning must efficiently allocate offices, an international exhibition and conference center, laboratories, and retail and social service amenities.
To create a multi-functional park, the design incorporated urban development, industrial spaces, and villages. ‘With science elements incorporated into the design, the project is a placemaking destination with ties to local history and culture.’ According to Kelvin, Executive Director of Aedas.
Urban x Nature
The design has improved the biodiversity, connectivity, and sustainability of the plot. A multidimensional linkage achieves a seamless connection via a comprehensive pedestrian system, an optimized traffic plan, and open green corridors and outdoor communal spaces that extend the landscape to the plot.
Industry x Home
The headquarters, which has an integrated layout design, is a work-live complex that connects the living space and recreational amenities with the office area. The project is intended to be a low-carbon office park due to the inclusion of greenery in the façade and within the headquarters.
Technology x Living
The design used ecological measures, such as flood management and a water-absorbing system, to create a sustainable and humane environment. These provide flexibility in dealing with the local climate and increase the project’s porosity.
Architectural Design
The headquarters is located in the plot’s heart, serving as a development hub. The mortise and tenon joints served as inspiration for the design. The buildings of varying heights are linked to a ridge-like skyline, integrating with nature at the blurred exterior-interior boundaries where nature, technology, and humanity coexist.
The existing water-saving tower and natural ponds serve as iconic focal points while also providing the project with a natural landscape view, resulting in a skyline that echoes the urban context. The low-rise buildings blend in with the village blocks, while the towers rise to merge with the mountains.
The main lobby and outdoor terraces are in the low zone, while the human-centered and open office areas retreat into the mid-high zone. Sky gardens connect the exterior and interior spaces on the middle and top floors. The design encourages users to interact and socialize in a people-centric and vibrant public space, which is complemented in the interiors by greenery and warm-toned marbles. The façade of the tower has been designed to minimize carbon emissions by using brushed metal, glass panels, and vertical greenery.
Individual office towers are designed in various sizes to meet various needs, resulting in buildings of varying masses. They are unevenly distributed throughout the plot and adorned with green rooftops to blend in with the surrounding landscape, resulting in a collaborative construction village.
The exhibition center, with its fluid architectural form, is a large space for collaboration and exhibition. A featured lighting corridor connects the sunken plaza and interiors, then the outlying sky bridge, creating a circular flow of visitors. The simple yet efficient design optimizes the ventilation and shading system, effectively minimizing heat gain, resulting in an ecologically and economically conscious public realm.
‘The project clusters top technology firms, providing a hub that combines advanced technology and sustainable living elements with an integration of nature and urban development.’ Aedas Founder and Global Principal Designer Keith Griffiths says.
Project Info
Project: Shenzhen Construction Industry Ecological & Intelligent Valley Headquarters Phase 1 Urban Planning and Architectural Design
Location: Shenzhen, China
Client: Shenzhen Longgang District Urban Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd
Design and Project Architect: Joint venture of Shenzhen Capol International & Associates Co., Ltd, Aedas and MLA+B.V.
Gross Floor Area: 248,888 sq m
Completion Year: 2023
Design Director: Kelvin Hu, Executive Director; Keith Griffiths, Founder and Global Principal Designer
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