Design for Shenzhen co-living space by Foster + Partners selected as competition winner

Foster + Partners has revealed their winning design for the Qianhai Talents' Apartments in Shenzhen, China. 

The co-living project is designed for "talents," which are young professionals who engage in a rigorous work-centered lifestyle away from their families. Operating as a dynamic co-living space, the Talents' Apartments capitalize on the use of shared space. Through investigation the design team found that dining was one of the common activities that brings people together in communal settings. While each apartment is equipped with a small kitchenette for basic necessities, primary cooking activities take place in a communal area. Feeding twelve residential units across three levels, this shared kitchen forms a hub where all of the building's residents can gather.

Additionally, amenities such as a clubhouse, wellness and spa center, townhall, and co-working space are situated within the terraced "skygardens" of the tower. "As working practices evolve rapidly, so do patterns of living. The residential rental sector in China is fertile grounds for innovation as more people move to the cities in search of opportunities. Located at the heart of Qianhai financial district, the Talents’ Apartments recreate the intimate feeling of home. The shared spaces within the complex facilitate real connections and create positive impact on people’s lives," said Luke Fox, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners in a statement.

The new project will use modular construction and prefabrication to save time and ensure quality control. Moreover, the modular method encourages flexibility: Every two units are enclosed by two shear walls, which allow the freedom to combine two adjacent units in the future.