MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, has revealed a new renderings of a masterplan and architectural design for the Shenzhen Bay Culture Park in China. The complex covers roughly 51,000 square meters and will have a total building area of 182,000 square meters which will include the Creative Design Hall, the Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum, and an expansive  public green space along the waterfront in Shenzhen, China. The project is expected to be completed in 2023.

"When building a cultural landmark on a site positioned between the dynamic energy of a modern city and quiet timelessness of nature, it
should be imagined as a free civic space – at first a land art park, with its functions complementing its aesthetics," said Yansong in a statement. 

The core design scheme is shaped by an open green plaza. Spread across the ground floor are a reception area, standard exhibition halls, public education space, library, auditorium, theater, cafe, and supporting businesses. These programs are depressed into the terrain and will remain unseen from above.

Pedestrian pathways from the city lead seamlessly into the park, providing an almost unnoticeable transition from the larger urban area into the public green space of the project.

"I want to create a surreal atmosphere, so that the people who visit, relax or exercise here have the possibility of engaging in a dialogue with the past and the future. Time and space are dissolved and placed against each other, manifesting a sense of weightlessness, and unrestrained imagination," Yansong continued.

A mirrored pool at the heart of the site serves as a "en plein air" seaside amphitheater that can accommodate 10,000 people. Moreover, various platforms spread across the site provide spaces for outdoor performance venues and public art exhibitions, building on the design team's concept of fostering cultural interaction.

The north and south pavilions each stand as smooth, stone-like monuments. Along the top floor of the south pavilion visitors can walk through the exhibition space and eventually reach a viewing platform that overlooks Shenzhen Bay and the city skyline. The main public area has several standardized exhibition halls that can host a range of works, including sculptures and special collection displays.