The competition-winning design is for the Shimao Shenzhen Longgang Master Plan and the associated tower, Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Center.
It is envisioned the skyscraper will be one of the tallest towers in the world, at approximately 700 meters, and will serve as a symbolic icon for the new district.
Set between the foothills of Longcheng Park and the Dayun National Park, the site is adjacent to several major sporting venues.
“The graceful new tower references anthropomorphic characteristics, offering a new sculptural icon for north-west Shenzhen’s skyline,” said AS+GG design partner Adrian Smith.
“It is anthropomorphic in character, representing and honoring in an abstract way the athletes that train and struggle to have the opportunity to perform in the world-class stadiums and arenas directly adjacent to and integrated into the overall AS+GG master plan for this project.
“In this way, it adds a subtle layer of contextualism to the activities that these performance spaces contain. The result is a muscular expression in high-performance glass with layers of texture that define the elements of its shaped form. At the tower's top will be a performance space combined with one of the world’s highest observation spots.”
The mixed-use district that surrounds the tower contains a five-star hotel, offices, and conference facilities. A major retail facility defines the north-east corner of the site, while several apartment towers occupy the north-west section. Landscaped promenades connect people and every aspect of the activity.
The environmental goal for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Center and the surrounding landscape is to obtain LEED Platinum certification, therefore sustainability is considered in a holistic way: high-performance glass will be used to reduce heat gain.
Buildings are oriented to respond to existing environmental solar conditions for enhanced passive solar control. Strategic natural lighting for interior spaces increases human comfort. The development was designed so that winds predominantly are funneled into the open spaces to provide natural ventilation throughout the site and improve outdoor thermal comfort.