Qianhai Bay Transport Hub

Located in the west of Shenzhen province, Qianhai Bay is part of a comprehensive masterplan for an urban development zone in southern China. A business quarter is planned here, with a wide range of retail premises, hotels, up-market apartments and a central transportation hub for the metropolises of the Pearl River Delta. The planning zone is flanked by two river channels and terminates in parkland stepping down to the bay.

A multistorey terraced podium area with intensively planted roof gardens extends around high rises of various types, which are offset to one another in height and position to offer open views over the sea. The rich and varied skyline peaks at a landmark tower, which, at 500 metres high, provides a distinctive orientation point for the whole area.

Between the individual podium buildings, a central canyon opens down to the lowest storey of the complex. Three broadened sections within this gorge form a bright, extensive retail arcade, highlight the intersection of the two main traffic axes and include the development zone's main railway station. The space here extends upwards through several storeys and is covered by an undulating transparent structure that allows natural light to penetrate deep into the basement storeys at the level of the underground transport facilities.