Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill to design Shimao Shenzhen Longgang Master Plan and 700-meter “anthropomorphic” tower

Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture recently won a competition to design the Shimao Shenzhen Longgang Master Plan. Set between the foothills of Longcheng Park and the Dayun National Park and near major sporting venues, the project's centerpiece will be a 700-meter-tall tower called the Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Center.

The tower's “anthropomorphic” design is an abstract representation of “the athletes that train and struggle to have the opportunity to perform in the world-class stadiums, arenas, and natatorium directly adjacent to and integrated into the overall AS+GG master plan for this project,” AS+GG Design Partner Adrian Smith said in a statement.

Read more about the project below.

“In this way, [the tower] adds a subtle layer of contextualism to the activities that these performance spaces contain,” Adrian Smith continues. “The result is a muscular expression in high-performance glass with layers of texture that define the elements of its shaped form.”

The top of the tower will include a performance space combined with one of the world's highest observations and club facilities like a restaurant, night club, spa, and a grand swimming pool, all of which will provide views of Shenzhen and beyond, Smith describes.

Surrounding the tower will be a mixed-use district that includes a five-star hotel, offices, conference facilities, a cultural center, and main library, all connected by landscaped promenades. A retail facility will be situated at the northeast corner of the site, while apartment towers will occupy the northwest section. The complex will also have a major public transportation center and bus terminal.

“Gardens and open spaces were designed to accommodate memorable and unique experiences,” says AS+GG Partner Gordon Gill. “Through an optimized configuration of the buildings and the inclusion of water features, a successful microclimate will improve outdoor comfort throughout the year.”

Aiming for a LEED Platinum rating, the development includes sustainable elements like high-performance glass to reduce heat gain, strategic natural lighting and ventilation, and water management — in response to Shenzhen's heavy rains and flooding during the summer.

“It was crucial that the site can manage 100 percent of a 100-year storm event,” AS+GG says. The site will also have landscape features like engineered soils, retention ponds, native plants, and foliage as a network of systems that will recycle rainwater for irrigation and other purposes.

A project timeline is yet to be announced.