Hamburg-based architect Gerkan, Marg and Partners (GMP) has won an international competition to design a tower complex in Shenzhen’s new "Super Bay City" business district.
The design is made up of three blocks of differing heights, linked at the base. The largest, at 250m, will be the Hengli International Building for the Hengli Investment Group; the others will be a 36m-high conference centre and an 80m-high "culture tower" that will include galleries and gardens.
The compact, six-story conference centre is located between the office high-rise and the culture tower. The inside of the building contains an auditorium surrounded by prestigious lobbies, and a roof garden adorns the top of the building.
The Hengli International headquarters, the conference centre and the culture tower (GMP)
GMP commented in its entry to the competition that the building elevations facing east and west are largely without windows, but have vertical glazed strips on those sides, together with gate-like apertures for "sky gardens" in the north and south elevations. The gardens also have amenities such as a café, bar, book shop, fitness studio and rooftop observation deck.
The 12ha site also expands downwards four floors, with the top two basement floors containing a shopping centre. There is also the obligatory urban plaza at the base, with pathways and bridges at differing levels to add interest.
Top image: Gerkan, Marg and Partners’ rendering of its design
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