Shenzhen Cultural Centre
Location: Shenzhen, China
Architect: Studio Seilern Architects Ltd
Local Architect: China International Engineering Design & Consulting Co. Ltd
This is not just a building, but a new cultural community at the heart of Shenzhen. As the new urban fabric are becoming too dense, the ecosystem of the city needs to be repaired. We would like to introduce the greenery and water element back to the city.
We created a quiet space in the middle of the city, a park, inspired by the TangLang Mountains. The building is a series of raised landscaped plateaus; it levitates over a pool of water in its own reflection, creating a naturally cooled and green micro-climate. Fusion of landscape and architecture are at the core of the concept, where steel and glass exist in harmony with nature. Performance, art, museum, and support programmes are being grouped into three distinct and interconnected buildings. Greened terraces allow the visitors and the building users to connect to nature. The undulating facades create a poetic dynamic of architecture and landscape. Every building function has its own outdoor garden, where rehearsals, performances or exhibitions can occur in a shaded and cooled environment.
Shenzhen is essentially an open node of urban public spaces; it has a variety of venues in various scales. The project aims to build a global and regional cultural centre, representing Shenzhen within the Bay Area as a cultural leader. It will empower the Longhua district to be the core of the local culture, to attract more cultural activities towards the north of Shenzhen. We are trying to build a pilot demonstration area for socialism with Chinese characteristics. Public transportation and slow travel experience are the focus of the scheme; we encourage sustainable means of transportation and creates a pedestrian-friendly transportation system. Our site is right next to Minzhi metro station, where metro line 22 will be connected in the future. The basement of the project will be connected with the Metro underground station, enhancing pedestrian circulation.
The project focuses on applying low-carbon ecological technology and applying green building design technology. We have fully considered trends in scientific and technological progress, introducing advanced technology to the project. The green roof of the architecture will be used for rainwater harvesting; water collected will be used for irrigation. We are using natural light to reduce electricity usage for lighting. The double-glazed facade can increase the insulation property of the building envelope, reduces the energy required to air-condition the interior spaces. The frit pattern on the glass can act as solar shading. The reflective pool around the architecture can reduce apparent temperature and create micro-climate. The pavement on the plaza will have energy generating feature, providing alternative energy for the project, creating a sustainable community.
