Benoy, the global studio of Architects, Masterplanners, Interior and Graphic Designers has revealed its design of the future China Resources Land (CRL) Qianhai Centre Shenzhen.
The development will form a core part of the highly publicised Qianhai special economic zone. As masterplanner and retail architect, Benoy says it has “challenged the status quo of a traditional finance district” by creating a multi-layered active city environment for the commercial scheme.
Located in the centre of Qianhai, the development sits within ‘Neighbourhood 2’ of the district. With a vision to transform the district into the ‘Manhattan of the Pearl River Delta’, Qianhai itself is expected to attract $45 billion in future investment.
“Our design has aimed to capture how we want our cities to look, feel and function in the future; bringing a new concept to shape this emerging zone,” said Chao Wu, Benoy director.
Benoy’s masterplan for the 54,000 sqm site aims to create an active 24 hour destination and develop the plot to its fullest potential. The scheme will feature a four-storey podium including a basement retail level which will connect to five towers comprising commercial offices, a five star international hotel and serviced apartment residences.
Enlivening the heart of the development, and, in turn, the wider district has been a key consideration of the design. As such, Benoy has carved two main ‘spines’ through the development to create a lively internal streetscape. The Financial Valley and the Green Belt thoroughfares open up the podium to create an interconnected environment from the sunken basement levels up to the roof garden on Level 4.
As Chao explains: “These open-air spines bring the development to life with their fluid form which is accentuated by landscaping, terraces and an eclectic mix of spaces. The design gives human-scale and creates a recreational experience and personality for the emerging financial zone.”
At the intersection of these internal streets sits the focal point of the scheme – a large, vertically and horizontally connected outdoor event space. This outdoor entertainment area has been designed for year-round enjoyment with a monocoque steel canopy featuring ETFE material. A modern theatre and art gallery have been strategically positioned nearby to support the events programme, reiterating the commitment to inject art and culture into the commercial precinct.
“This development needs to serve both the living and working needs of the surrounding community. We wanted to create a model which functions as a recreational realm bustling with activities and different environments to form a centrepiece for the wider commercial masterplan,” says Chao.
The development has not ignored its identity within the financial district with the architectural language respecting both functions of the scheme. The lively designs along the interior spines of the development have been complemented by the formal and clean lines of the street-facing facades which reference the corporate nature of the district.
Following the vision of the district, CRL Qianhai Centre promotes a strong integration of public transport and a multi-layered pedestrian-friendly environment as a Transit Oriented Development. Three metro lines which include Line 1, Line 5 and the future Line 11 are seamlessly integrated into the scheme. Environmentally aware, the development is targeting both LEED and China Green Building three star certifications.
CRL Qianhai Centre has broken ground and is due to complete construction in 2018. The development adds to Benoy’s growing portfolio in the emerging Pearl River Delta economic zone.
