Steven Holl wins in Shenzhen

Shenzhen business district to be shaped by an all star cast

Steven Holl Architects has won the “4 in I” tower competition to design the master plan for the Futian business district in Shenzhen, China. Organized by the Shenzhen Planning Bureau, the charge is to create a unified urban plan and office complex around the new Shenzhen Stock Exchange Headquarters designed by OMA. Holl was selected by a six-member jury chaired by Arata Isozaki. Other winners including Morphosis, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Atelier FCJZ and Hans Hollein and MVRDV, will design the individual towers in the scheme.

Holl’s design is based on the concept of tropical skyscrapers as Shade Machines connected by a “Social Bracket”, a long horizontal element elevated above the plaza that gathers together the public programs of all for towers including, cafeterias, gyms, art galleries, auditoriums, and a cinema. The Social Bracket is topped with a green roof that collects and recycles grey water and storm water from the four towers.

The towers circular design maximizes interior space and views while minimizing the exterior envelope. Incorporated in each tower façade is a rotating sun-shading device with photovoltaic cells that is designed to harvest enough energy from the sun to provide cooling for all four towers.