Farrell's design, which features four office towers, including a 300-metre landmark tower and two residential towers, is conceived as an evolution from the shopping malls and isolated towers that have dominated Shenzhen’s urbanism throughout its initial decades of growth.
The project has drawn its inspiration from nature and the proximity to the waterfront. White and silver colours visually dominate, while the structures evoke the shape of ribbons and waves, reminding onlookers of the nearby coast as well as bringing a softer sensation to the skyline.
The buildings are interconnected and engaging, exhibiting rounded corners and soft, fluid lines as well as sculptural components that curve and twist. The layout, although still following the city grid and overall Qianhai urban vision, stands out from the formal architectural context and rigidity prominent in other areas of the city, able to accommodate high density without the usual intense feeling of compactness and isolation.
At street level is a series of pavilions and open-air footbridges linking together all the buildings while providing a series of attractive open spaces for pedestrians to use. Its sheer design, which rests above a small street grid used only for deliveries and essential services, again echoes the nearby bay while projecting a sense and feel of fluidity into the development.
The permeable design and smaller podium footprints also help reduce the heat-island effect and allows air to naturally flow through the unenclosed footbridges. Five nearby metro stations mean most of this “transit-oriented” development’s future workers and residents will be able to commute to work, making this development’s location yet another asset to encourage more footfall. The people-centric focus aims to activate the streets with retail and leisure options and bring workers, visitors and residents out to mix and gather.
The two 180m gateway towers aim to draw people towards the waterfront. Every geometric element on these towers is done to reinforce this vision, from the tapering of the building roofs to the architectural lines, fins, and features, as well as the sturdy base.
We have helped pioneer and establish a new typology of what can be achieved in high-density urban environments. Despite site constraints and architectural precedence in Shenzhen, One Excellence has pushed the boundaries by realising a people-centric urban vision that embraces natural elements such as its coastal heritage, while meeting the functional needs of a rapidly growing city. We hope this not only sets a new bar for Shenzhen but also shows other cities around the world what is possible.
Benjamin Lau, Director at FarrellsFarrells won the design competition for One Excellence in late 2013. The Qianhai district, built on land reclaimed from the Qianhai bay, is effectively an ‘instant city’ for over one million people.