The complex brief for this shortlisted competition scheme included three key parts: the connection of the subway system with the new Guangzhou-Shenzhen railway station; the reconnection of the north and south parts of the city and improvement of the civic spaces; and the creation of a central landmark which will create a strong identity for Shenzhen.

Our response was to create a strong axial route which gradually slopes downwards, leading the public below Shennan Road to reunite the north and south. At the central point, a new public space is envisaged which acts as a gathering place and allows distribution of pedestrians to the various nodes of the transport system. Below-ground connections to the stations are top-lit and lined with retail units.

The Citizen’s Square to the north is retained and enhanced, now reconnected to the rest of the city. On ground level, four new public parks are created – each with a different theme and planting type.A central building encircles the new civic space which is envisaged as a showcase for the best of Shenzhen’s design, art and architecture. The form of the building is expressed through a gently curving roof-canopy, which reflects the opposite curve of the Shenzhen Civic Centre to the north. The building’s design includes a number of energy-reducing strategies including thermal chimneys, earth ducts and an array of PVs on the roof.