Reused and resilient architecture. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV
02/10/2023.
[Shenzhen] China
metalocus, CRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ
metalocus, CRISTINA RODRÍGUEZ
The MVRDV architecture studio has designed the Shenzhen Women and Children Center, located in the Futian district of Shenzhen, a city in southern China that borders Hong Kong.
The project transforms a former mixed-use tower into a colorful skyscraper that houses a hotel, a library, an auditorium, a children's theater, a "discovery room" for children, and therapy rooms and offices for staff.
The tower was built in 1994 in response to the large increase in population in the city, however, currently, as it did not meet the necessary requirements in terms of fire safety and environmental requirements, it fell into disuse in 2019. As a result of the compliance to achieve carbon neutrality, the building was selected as an example of revitalization, being a precedent for the reuse of buildings in the city.
The project transforms a former mixed-use tower into a colorful skyscraper that houses a hotel, a library, an auditorium, a children's theater, a "discovery room" for children, and therapy rooms and offices for staff.
The tower was built in 1994 in response to the large increase in population in the city, however, currently, as it did not meet the necessary requirements in terms of fire safety and environmental requirements, it fell into disuse in 2019. As a result of the compliance to achieve carbon neutrality, the building was selected as an example of revitalization, being a precedent for the reuse of buildings in the city.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
East elevation. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
West elevation. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Facade color schemes. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
Diagram. Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV.
The Shenzhen Women and Children Center designed by MVRDV has maintained the structure of the original tower, which is a more resilient and sustainable approach than tearing it down and rebuilding it. The new façade formed by a grid of multicolored frames was placed on top of this structure, which, by increasing its depth, also provides shade, reduces heat gain and allows ventilation, thus increasing thermal comfort inside.
The roof of the building was also transformed, housing an accessible terrace that offers 360º views of the city. The patio, a former parking lot, has now been converted into a public space with a restaurant area and the metro entrance has been moved inside to have a better connection with public transport networks.
The roof of the building was also transformed, housing an accessible terrace that offers 360º views of the city. The patio, a former parking lot, has now been converted into a public space with a restaurant area and the metro entrance has been moved inside to have a better connection with public transport networks.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
Project description by MVRDV
Construction on the MVRDV-designed Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre is complete, transforming an old mixed-use tower into a vibrant and colourful skyscraper hosting a hotel and a wide range of facilities for the welfare of women and children: a library, an auditorium, a children’s theatre and “discovery hall”, as well as therapy rooms and offices for staff. With its colourful façade, the building is a refreshing presence in Shenzhen’s Futian district; more importantly, at 100 metres tall, the building sets an important precedent for repurposing buildings in a city that is soon to see a “great wave of adaptive reuse”.
The tower was originally completed in 1994, forming part of Shenzhen’s first period of explosive growth. The rushed approach to its original design was immediately clear: due to persistent fire safety concerns, the commercial units in the plinth were not opened until 2002, and the tower itself remained empty indefinitely.
With the changing needs of the building’s users, it fell short of environmental requirements, and by 2019 it was clear that the building was no longer fit for purpose. Owing to China’s commitment to achieving carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, the building was selected as one of 24 model examples of revitalisation by the National Development and Reform Commission.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
To rectify the building’s problems, MVRDV designed a comprehensive transformation that would allow the building’s structure to be reused – a far more sustainable approach than demolishing and rebuilding. The most visible element of this transformation is the new façade: a grid of multi-coloured exterior frames increases the depth of the façade to a full metre. These frames provide extra shading to reduce thermal heat gain, and also incorporate openable panels on the inside that allow for natural ventilation – thus increasing occupants’ comfort and reducing the building’s reliance on air conditioning.
The design also transforms multiple elements of the building. The tower crown provides cover for a large accessible terrace offering a 360-degree panorama of the neighbourhood below. The courtyard, which was originally used for car parking, has been converted into a public space with a food court. The entrance to the city’s metro, which previously cluttered the pavement outside, has been moved inside the building to better connect it to public transit networks and reinforce the transition away from car-dependence.
The transformation of the building was achieved while saving approximately 24,000 cubic metres of concrete from the original structure, a reuse resulting in a carbon saving equivalent to 11,800 flights from Amsterdam to Shenzhen. Small additions to the structure were also made, filling in some of the original design’s awkward geometry to create simple, efficient floorplans.
Shenzhen Women & Children’s Centre by MVRDV. Photograph by Xia Zhi.
“The Shenzhen Women and Children’s Centre could be a pioneering project for Shenzhen”, says MVRDV founding partner Jacob van Rijs. “With the city’s fast-paced growth, many existing buildings were not really designed to have a long lifespan. That is a recipe for either an epidemic of demolition or, ideally, a great wave of adaptive reuse. Showing that even the most inadequate of these structures can be reused could save a crazy amount of concrete going to landfill – and eliminate millions of tonnes of carbon emissions that would have been created replacing that concrete.”
The colours of the façade – yellow, orange, pink, and green – help to communicate the building’s layout. The multicoloured plinth clearly advertises its function as a service centre for mothers and their children; on the tower, which hosts the hotel, these colours give way to a more neutral white. On the ground floor, the four primary entrances to the complex are each highlighted by a concentration of a different colour, making the building easy to navigate and welcoming to visitors.
This colourful and communicative approach continues into the main lobby. Here, a structure of nine “rooms” hosts diverse functions that together form a playground-like space for children to enhance their enjoyment during a visit. The joyful colours of this structure reinforce the building’s purpose as a space where children are given priority.
More information
Architects
MVRDV. Lead architect.- Jacob van Rijs.
Project team
Partner.- Wenchian Shi Director.
MVRDV Asia.- Steven Smit, Peter Chang.
Lorenzo Mattozzi, Marco Gazzola, Giuseppe Mazzaglia, Daehee Suk, Fredy Fortich, Chi Zhang, Bertrand Tan, Siyi Pan, Albert Parfonov, Andrius Ribikauskas, Enrica Perrot, Martina Franco, Jiameng Li, Agnieszka Dabek, Paula Vargas Torres, Elisa Paneni, Peter Chang, Luca Xu, Hong Yang, Echo Zhai, Zhang Ruochen, Leo Zhang, Huang Cai, Peilu Chen, Xiaoliang Yu, Americo Iannazzone, Yihong Chen, Kefei Yan, Edvan Ardianto.
MVRDV Asia.- Steven Smit, Peter Chang.
Lorenzo Mattozzi, Marco Gazzola, Giuseppe Mazzaglia, Daehee Suk, Fredy Fortich, Chi Zhang, Bertrand Tan, Siyi Pan, Albert Parfonov, Andrius Ribikauskas, Enrica Perrot, Martina Franco, Jiameng Li, Agnieszka Dabek, Paula Vargas Torres, Elisa Paneni, Peter Chang, Luca Xu, Hong Yang, Echo Zhai, Zhang Ruochen, Leo Zhang, Huang Cai, Peilu Chen, Xiaoliang Yu, Americo Iannazzone, Yihong Chen, Kefei Yan, Edvan Ardianto.
Collaborators
Interiors & Landscape Design.- Lorenzo Mattozzi, Fokke Moerel, Pim Bangert, Giovanni Nardi, Daehee Suk, Jiameng Li, Bertrand Tan, Paula Vargas Torres, Luca Xu.
MVRDV NEXT.- Boudewijn Thomas, Yayun Liu, Changqing Ye.
Project coordination.- Jammy Zhu.
Visualisations.- Antonio Luca Coco, Angelo La Delfa, Pavlos Ventouris, Francesco Vitale, Luana La Martina, Jaroslaw Jeda, Emanuele Fortunati.
Copyright.- MVRDV Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Nathalie de Vries.
Co-architect / Landscape architect / MEP.- SZAD.
Project coordination.- Shenzhen Women & Children's Building Operation and Management Co.,Ltd.
Facade Consultant.- KGE (King Glass Engineering).
Structural engineer.- Yuanlizhu Engineering Consultants (Shenzhen) Co.,Ltd.
Lighting Consultant.- BPI (Brandston Partnership Inc.).
Cost calculation.- Jinxia Property Cost Consultation Co.,Ltd.
Interior architect.- Jiang & Associates.
MVRDV NEXT.- Boudewijn Thomas, Yayun Liu, Changqing Ye.
Project coordination.- Jammy Zhu.
Visualisations.- Antonio Luca Coco, Angelo La Delfa, Pavlos Ventouris, Francesco Vitale, Luana La Martina, Jaroslaw Jeda, Emanuele Fortunati.
Copyright.- MVRDV Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Nathalie de Vries.
Co-architect / Landscape architect / MEP.- SZAD.
Project coordination.- Shenzhen Women & Children's Building Operation and Management Co.,Ltd.
Facade Consultant.- KGE (King Glass Engineering).
Structural engineer.- Yuanlizhu Engineering Consultants (Shenzhen) Co.,Ltd.
Lighting Consultant.- BPI (Brandston Partnership Inc.).
Cost calculation.- Jinxia Property Cost Consultation Co.,Ltd.
Interior architect.- Jiang & Associates.
Client
Shum Yip Group Limited.
Area
57,900 sqm.
Dates
2019–2023.
Location
Futian District, Shenzhen, China.
Photography
Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, Nathalie de Vries. MVRDV
MVRDV was founded in 1993 by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The practice engages globally in providing solutions to contemporary architectural and urban issues. A highly collaborative, research-based design method involves clients, stakeholders and experts from a wide range of fields from early on in the creative process. The results are exemplary, outspoken projects, which enable our cities and landscapes to develop towards a better future.
The products of MVRDV’s unique approach to design vary, ranging from buildings of all types and sizes, to urban plans and visions, numerous publications, installations and exhibitions. Built projects include the Netherlands Pavilion for the World EXPO 2000 in Hannover; the Market Hall, a combination of housing and retail in Rotterdam; the Pushed Slab, a sustainable office building in Paris’ first eco-district; Flight Forum, an innovative business park in Eindhoven; the Silodam Housing complex in Amsterdam; the Matsudai Cultural Centre in Japan; the Unterföhring office campus near Munich; the Lloyd Hotel in Amsterdam; the Ypenburg housing and urban plan in The Hague; the Didden Village rooftop housing extension in Rotterdam; the music centre De Effenaar in Eindhoven; the Gyre boutique shopping center in Tokyo; a public library in Spijkenisse; an international bank headquarters in Oslo, Norway; and the iconic Mirador and Celosia housing in Madrid.
Current projects include a variety of housing projects in the Netherlands, France, China, India, and other countries; a community centre in Copenhagen and a cultural complex in Roskilde, Denmark, a public art depot in Rotterdam, the transformation of a mixed use building in central Paris, an office complex in Shanghai, and a commercial centre in Beijing, and the renovation of an office building in Hong Kong. MVRDV is also working on large scale urban masterplans in Bordeaux and Caen, France and the masterplan for an eco-city in Logroño, Spain. Larger scale visions for the future of greater Paris, greater Oslo, and the doubling in size of the Dutch new town Almere are also in development.
MVRDV first published a manifesto of its work and ideas in FARMAX (1998), followed by MetaCity/Datatown (1999), Costa Iberica (2000), Regionmaker (2002), 5 Minutes City (2003), KM3 (2005), Spacefighter (2007) and Skycar City (2007), and more recently The Vertical Village (with The Why Factory, 2012) and the firm’s first monograph of built works MVRDV Buildings (2013). MVRDV deals with issues ranging from global sustainability in large scale studies such as Pig City, to small, pragmatic architectural solutions for devastated areas such as New Orleans.
The work of MVRDV is exhibited and published worldwide and has received numerous international awards. One hundred architects, designers and urbanists develop projects in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative design process which involves rigorous technical and creative investigation. MVRDV works with BIM and has official in-house BREEAM and LEED assessors.
Together with Delft University of Technology, MVRDV runs The Why Factory, an independent think tank and research institute providing an agenda for architecture and urbanism by envisioning the city of the future.
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