Eco Design: in Search of Balance
Last October was started construction works on the first objects of the Galaxy Yabao Hi-Tech Enterprises Park. Galaxy Yabao Hi-Tech Enterprises Headquarter Park is close to the central zone of Futian District, Shenzhen China. The Gross site area is about 65 ha; and the GFA is over 1,050,000 sqm, consisting of 18 high-rise towers ranging from 100-300 meters tall, a 5 star hotel, 3 service apartment towers, 3 residential towers, a shopping mall and a 32 ha park. Developer of the new district is the privately owned real estate Galaxy Group. The project was designed by international architectural studio 10 Design.
Concept
The project is an examination of the relationship between a pristine rural landscape and the advancing forces of a rapidly growing city. Tony Huang of the privately owned real estate Shenzhen based developer, Galaxy Group, said: “The vision for the project is to cultivate a hi-tech headquarter park where people can lead a wellbalanced life, working and living in a tranquil yet innovative environment. This mix-used complex is designed for a multifaceted community, which includes living, working, shopping recreation, and tourism. The site is very unique with superb first world infrastructure in beautiful parkland setting around two natural lakes.” Ted Givens, Design Partner of 10, explained: “The main design concept was to try and integrate the complex into the natural landscape.”
Givens added, “Beyond the formal inspirations that try to blur or bridge the architecture back into a natural context, a series of sustainable ideas is embedded into the project that activates the buildings. The design is an examination of the concept of moving “beyond neutrality” on a large scale.” The buildings define a strong urban edge on the southwestern edge of the site and begin to dissolve into nature as they move northeast across the site towards the lake. A series of balconies pulls off the tower facades to allow for vegetation to grow up the sides of the buildings. A series of algae tubes mounted on the western facades also brings a natural diffuse green texture into the complex. External linear screens further diffuse the edge of the towers and shelter the buildings from the heat of the summer sun.
Each tower has a rooftop garden to help reduce heat island effect. “The main design driver was to integrate a large commercial project into a pristine natural setting. The goal is for the constructed reality to retain and enhance the existing natural character of the site. The buildings all become marginally iconic to increase their commercial value and to break up a potentially overbearing set of forms on the site. Balanced against the individuality of forms a set of common elements and formal triggers weave the project into a coherent whole.” Givens added, “Beyond the formal inspirations that try to blur or bridge the architecture back into a natural context, a series of sustainable ideas is embedded into the project that activates the buildings. The design is an examination of the concept of moving “beyond neutrality” on a large scale.”
Project: Galaxy Yabao Hi-Tech
Enterprises Headquarter Park
Design Partner: Ted Givens
Managing Partner: David Pringle
Architectural Team: Maciej
Setniewski, Peby Pratama, Tatsu
Hayashi, Abraham Fung, Emre Icdem,
Jon Martin, Ru Chen, Shane Dale
Landscape Team: Ewa Koter, Ting
Fung Chan
Project location: Shenzhen, PRC
Masterplan Area: 62 ha
GFA: 1,050,000 sq. m
Function: Retail, Office, Serviced
Apartments, 5-Star Hotel, a Park
Construction commencement:
October 2011
Full version you can download here
Materials provided by 10 Design