South-east view. Image © Chaoying Yang
- Architects: URBANUS
- Location: Shen Nan Dong Lu, Luohu Qu, Shenzhen Shi, Guangdong Sheng, China
- Lead Architect: Yan Meng
- Project Manager: Xiaodong Xu
- Project Architect: Enchen Rao, Zhen Zhang, Renqin Luo(Architecture), Xiaolan Yu (Landscape)
- Area: 158458.0 m2
- Project Year: 2015
- Photographs: Chaoying Yang, Alex Chan, Dayong Wang
- Design Team: Lide Li, Chunying Wu, Yanhua Sun, Shengfen Xie(Architecture), Ting Lin, Zhijiao Wei, Jie Liu(Landscape), Jialin Zhu, Luoyi Xu (Technical Director)
- Client: China General Nuclear Power Corporation
- Interior Design: Shenzhen City Republican Design Engineering Co.
- Ldi: The Architectural Design & Research Institute Of Guangdong Province Shenzhen Branch
- Steel Structure: Guangzhou RBS Architecture Engineer Design Associates
- Mechanical And Electrical: PB Engineering Technology
- Logo Design: HuangYang Design
South-east view. Image © Alex Chan
Text description provided by the architects. After a decade of speedy developments, the structure of Shenzhen’s Central Business District (CBD) has begun to stabilize. However, every individual building is pursuing its own uniqueness and lacks sensitivity between urban dialogues. Therefore the urban center is losing its totality.
Part of east view. Image © Chaoying Yang
Returning to the basic problem of high-rise buildings such as the use of energy saving technology, long-term sustainability, and clear and concise design approaches can make the design distinctive from the chaotic city centre and return to classic forms.
Space analysis
The architectural form and organization of space expresses the abstention from power and gives the CGN Headquarters a simple and concise figure from afar. The two tower blocks occupy the site eastwards, and interlock in plan and space. An image of two linked and interactive buildings is formed by fully utilizing the landscape at the East and West side. In this area, two blocks respond to each other and form a bracket in the air.
Part of east view. Image © Alex Chan
Part of north tower. Image © Alex Chan
The simplicity of the building facade texture conveys digital aesthetics. Modular windows repeat and vary throughout the skin, and become the main architectural vocabulary system. These windows vary in size, direction and depth, which gradually transform into grid fissions and extensions, supporting the floating public spaces. Based on these modular units, the spatial system of this gradient changes and partial upheaval acts as a metaphor for the fact that nuclear power is becoming a major energy industry.
Interior. Image © Alex Chan
1f master plan
Interior. Image © Alex Chan
At night, light travels through the grid, transforming the façade into a crystalline skin, and transferring the whole building into a screen that contains infinitive change. The dark metal façade emphasizes the corporal expression of CGN’s headquarters. The design exhibits the preciseness and solidity of a well-known technological enterprise, echoing its ambition of becoming a more international and future driven industry leader.
Part of east view. Image © Alex Chan