Aedas has collaborated with Shenzhen WOWA International Engineering and Design Co., Ltd. to design the ‘Shenzhen Luohu Chauanbu Street Shanty Town Redevelopment Project’ and has won the design competition.

Luohu is Shenzhen’s oldest urban district and reaps the geographical advantages of being proximal to Hong Kong as the district rapidly develops, reforms, opens up and showcases the notorious ‘Shenzhen speed’ to the rest of the world. With the rise of the finance and technology industries, land in Luohu is growing sparse, and it is becoming more challenging to adapt to the fast-pace economy with old housing and crowded shanty towns engulfing the city. Integrating to the Greater Bay Area, Luohu needs a critical urban renewal to progress the development of the area.

Integrating existing resources to regenerate the city has become a vital aspect of the design. The Aedas Architect team ensured for: the revitalisation of old neighbourhoods, a comprehensive urban update, and the development of an international pioneer city for sustainability. The regeneration of the city will be a model for high-quality economic development and make Luohu the gateway to economic growth. 

“The Luohu Chuanbu Street carries generations of heritage. We hope to preserve this while infusing contemporary, accessible and cosy homes through this redevelopment so that houses aren’t just a dwelling but also speak to your lifestyle. The design also takes into account its surroundings and brings a vibrant atmosphere that values eco-friendly practices.” Kelvin Hu, Project Designer and Executive Director of Aedas.

As the gateway between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the project will be located in the centre of Luohu Port. The project will be adjacent to Shenzhen’s ‘Golden Triangle’ landmark, with MixC City, Diwang Building and KK 100 to its North and a planned new city to its South. The new city will enrich the project with new commercial, education and healthcare facilities. The Buji River water system surrounds the project to the West, and the city’s greenery on the East is within walking distance. Located adjacent to Shenzhen’s main road, Riverside Avenue and Metro Line 9, the project is also walking distance to Metro Lines 1, 2, 3 and a planned Metro Line 11.

The irregularly shaped site is surrounded by buildings and storm water culverts. Along with highways and metro lines passing through the site, the fragmented layout of the surrounding urban facilities and greenery impose greater design challenges.

Faced with the complexities of the site requirements and topographical conditions, the team has conceptualised the project as a ‘Waterfront Oasis, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Light of Bay Area’. The design cultivates greenery and integrates into the intricate textures of its surroundings through three-dimensional urban space. The three-dimensional urban space also connects the North and South with space that stitches together the old and new urban areas, making Luohu a benchmark for eco-city living.

Stitching together the ‘new’ and the ‘old’

The project is located in Shenzhen’s central hub between the ‘Golden Triangle’ to the North and the Medical City to the South.

“We want the new urban area to be more than just a physical link between the old and new. Our goal is to create a deeper dialogue between the old and new urban areas by providing value through talent exchanges between Shenzhen and Hong Kong while also integrating urban facilities to the Greater Bay Area.”

An elevated walkway connects podiums of each area to integrate public greenery with the flyover corridor. All aspects of work and life are taken into account through the integration of residential, office, commercial and education facilities to enrich the urban development.

The project is designed as a cross-shaped network because of its proximity to civil facilities and traffic. The Northern plot will be allocated to education facilities, while the Southeastern plot will be allocated to commercial and residential space. The Western plot will be reserved for Exclusive Housing due to its outstanding views, while the Southwest plot will provide access to the area’s iconic towers. The towers within the development are effectively connected at podium levels and futher link to MixC City and the Medical City.

Three-Dimensional Urban Oasis

The Buji River borders the project to the West and the future green city hubs to the East. A 1.5 km urban Highline oasis envelopes the river with vegetation and realises the natural connection between the river and vibrant oasis.

Inside the development, a pocket layout is used to maximise the central courtyard space with the fewest number of buildings, creating a garden landscape. An urban oasis is created through central courtyards at the ground level, green podiums on the 2nd and 3rd floor, and sky gardens on mid-levels and tower roofs. A multi-dimensional landscape infiltration relieves the sense of oppression amongst the high-density city and creates a serene living environment for all residents.

Undulating ecological greenery further develops the green landscape in the South while also integrating the fragmented surrounding green space to redefine urban living and provide refreshing public spaces for the city. 

Three-Dimensional Urban Space

High-density cities need more public spaces beyond the ground floor. Many different attributes and functions need to operate together to create a balanced and rational urban layout, requiring higher engagement in space utilisation. Aedas proposes the notion of three-dimensional composite space to achieve this. Using podiums to connect areas also enables sharing of support facilities, efficiency in the use of the plot while also saving more ground space. Each podium also creates ample public platform space and allows more convenience through greater access points.

The first floor of the podium will be used for commercial space. Accessibility is enhanced through the centralised integration of public transportation along the street. The second floor will be used as a public green platform as it directly connects the MixC City with the Medical City and Luohu Port through elevated slow-moving systems, separating pedestrians and vehicles. The third floor will be used as private green space, reserved for residents of the development.

The main tower is located at the Southwest corner. The tower is vertically zoned to allow various commercial, residential, office and clubhouse facilities to operate independently. A towering torch inspires the architectural silhouette. The top facade is made of translucent glass, emphasising the tower’s contrasting colourway while also creating drama through the building’s illumination at night. The softened facade curves are subtle in to echo the smooth contours of the river while also reflecting the city skyline across the river.  

Commercial space on both sides of the river

The riverfront of the Buji River is underutilised due to poor accessibility. The project is designed to connect the old commercial centre of MixC City and the Chuanbu Street area with an elevated pedestrian walkway to provide multiple ways of entry for pedestrians and vehicles. The riverfront will depend on commercial, educational and cultural activity to form a unique cultural and commercial cluster. This cluster will link the vibrant riverfront businesses with green corridors, creating a thriving and prosperous community.

“Cities never stop developing but sometimes people need to have time to rest and reflect. Through this city hub, we hope to provide citizens comfort while also preserving the city’s heritage. The dialogue between the old and the new in addition with new composite green spaces, creates multifaceted exchanges between architecture, the city and its citizens.”