The Core of Zhuhai City Heart in China by 10 DESIGN

Article source: 10 DESIGN 

In November 2015, 10 DESIGN (10) won an international open competition for one of the most prominent sites in southern China, The Core of Zhuhai City Heart.  Fourteen other international architects were involved in this invited competition including Gensler, NBBJ, and HAS Architects to name a few.

Image Courtesy © 10 DESIGN

• Architects: 10 DESIGN 
• Project: The Core of Zhuhai City Heart
• Location: Zhuhai, China
• Design Team: Peby Pratama, Ray Lam, Zhang Rui Zhao, Daniel Wang, Yan Liu
• Design Partner: Ted Givens
• Partner: Miriam Au Yeung

Image Courtesy © 10 DESIGN

The Core of Zhuhai City Heart is a large urban mixed use development of GFA 1.4 million sqm located in Jida District.  This is one of the prime areas where the Zhuhai Municipality has major development plans for in preparation for the completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge by Q4 2017.

The client of the project, Huafa Group – a leading real estate developer in China with headquarters in Zhuhai, has played a significant role in helping to shape the new landscape of the city.  They are also the developer of the surrounding sites to the North and South of The Core of Zhuhai City Heart (Zhuhai Heart District and Nanshan District respectively) amongst others.

Image Courtesy © 10 DESIGN

The jury commented that in response to Huafa’s vision, 10’s winning design approach introduced a central plaza and a series of interconnected garden spaces throughout the sites to succinctly unify the development and provide unique and lively spaces activated by retail and F&B, allowing much needed open space for the area.  This way, the design embraces a holistic mixed use centre, where residential, commercial, and leisure seamlessly weave into the urban setting rather than in segregations.

Ted Givens, Design Partner with 10, says, “Our design response recognises the importance of unity and connectivity to both urban and natural contexts.  The entire site is envisioned to become an abstract Chinese garden with a centralised hub for the community.  A series of outdoor civic rooms are woven through the masterplan, adding vibrancy and attracting those from all walks of life.”

Image Courtesy © 10 DESIGN

Miriam Au Yeung, Partner with 10, adds, “We are very pleased to have won this design competition as we have been very fortunate to have led the design on a number of major landmark developments throughout Zhuhai.  Most notably is the 320m tall super high-rise Shizimen Tower in which St. Regis hotel is scheduled for opening on 30^th June 2017 and one of the world’s largest retail developments, the 510,000 sqm Summer International Retail Centre, anticipated for construction completion in 2020. We are currently also working on Phase 2 of Zhuhai Shizimen International Convention and Exhibition Centre, which is progressing well into detailed design stage.”

Image Courtesy © 10 DESIGN

About the site

The Core of Zhuhai City Heartisa large scale mixed used development with a site area of 329,700sqm and total GFA of around 1,385,000sqm. Located in the prime district of Jida in Zhuhai China, adjoining to Jiuzhou Avenue along its south, Jida Road to its north, and Haibin Road along its east, the existing site is currently occupied by old factories, old office buildings, retail, and residentialbuildings dating back to the 80’s,which have not been properly planned and used.  Through this urban rejuvenation, Jida district, together with the adjoiningneighbourhoods(Zhuhai Heart Districtand Nan ShanDistrict) will become aprecedent mixed used district, fusing commercial, residential, and recreation together.

This development consists mid to high end residential development, retail streets, cultural amenities, green zones, and recreation. With an existing mature traffic network and auxiliary amenity, this new core district will increase land and development value, stimulate activities in the surrounding sites, revitalise the city’s image, protect existing local population by providing adequate resettlement housing, and become a new landmark metropolis.

About the design

A centralised garden design divides the site into five primary neighbourhoods with two main plazas introduced in the north and south of the site to provide connections with the surrounding master plans. The central garden is a mixture of incubator/soho office, retail, and F&B spaces and consists four buildings linked together by pedestrian bridges, promoting pedestrian activity. The program is stacked vertically into a terraced massing taking on the form of an abstracted mountain. Terraces slide in and out of the massing forming garden plazas for F&B and offices. The buildings are designed to promote interaction between people and programs and act as an incubator hub for smaller creative offices. The main pedestrian pathways through the site wrap around this central form.

This central zone occupies the four central internal street corners of the four surrounding primary neighbourhoods.

Each of the four surrounding neighbourhoods provide further residential, F&B, retail, and offices, with the tallest tower (150m) occupying the Southern Plaza. The Core of Zhuhai City Heart will create a vibrant destinationfor the inhabitants with great urban connectivity to the surrounding districts and natural environment.

Tags: China, Zhuhai

Category: Mixed use

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