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Dutch architecture practice Mecanoo has won a development proposal to create a 12-tower cluster for the Shenzhen North Station business district. The massive building complex will feature numerous supertall skyscrapers up to 428 metres, plus an elevated pedestrian network and a central urban park.
The bold masterplan envisions a plethora of apartments, offices, retail and hotel rooms, all connected by the elevated pedestrian network. A two-level plinth is linked to the park via a system of overpasses, ramps, and landscaped platforms, while connections below ground provide access to the railway and metro station.
The site's commercial bays face the park — which will include a water feature — to enhance the vitality of the public space. Above and around the park rise the towers, which employ a series of setbacks to make their footprints larger than the floors on the top two-thirds of each tower. The staggered set of skyscrapers physically and materially respond to each other in order to maximize views and the entrance of natural light. The setbacks also allow for rooftop gardens to flourish.
The upper levels of the buildings will house the functions that require less floor space, such as the hotel rooms. The wider floors on the bottom are where large-format retail stores and open-concept offices will be located.
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