Aedas’ winning design scheme for the Houhai Building Decoration Industry Headquarters Project creates a landmark office development that embodies corporate philosophy, eco-friendliness and community engagement in Shenzhen’s emerging Houhai Headquarters Base. Houhai Central District is located in the geometric center of the Greater Bay Area, adjacent to Shenzhen Bay, and is home to multinational technology companies.

The plot is in close proximity to Houhai’s cultural and commercial axes, surrounded by super high-rise buildings and public transportations. In response to these conditions, Aedas Global Design Principal Leo Liu said, “Height is not the only criterion for landmark building. Beyond just an office headquarter, we hope to cultivate a community that offers green space for social interaction in the bustling city of Shenzhen.”

The tower is primarily comprised of two stacked office blocks and a two-story retail podium. The lower office block and retail podium face the city’s green axis, while the upper office block is oriented to maximum sea view toward the Shenzhen Bay.

The design demonstrates openness and inclusivity, the principles of corporate philosophy, from the notion of a “Green Valley”. The concept is advanced principally through the architectural form where the building is carved with a gap for green leisure platforms and roof gardens, a vertical greening strategy to achieve indoor-outdoor cohesion. The greenery is vertically expanded through the high-rise, high-density urban development to ensure users across each level could enjoy the serene view.

A green elevated space is found on the top of the lower block as a viewing platform, while the podium plate is extended to create additional space for public activities. Furthermore, dainty square boxes and an elegant artistic staircase are installed, designated as creative spaces.

The interior adopts a flexible and open layout to create a highly adaptable office environment. The design is opaque with an expanse of interactive spaces, allowing for diverse needs and social exchanges, while box spaces are interspersed between floors for private, small-scale meetings.

To achieve seamless internal-external connection, a multitude of entrances are set underground, and on ground and second floor; the spiraling artistic staircase also serves as an interface between the office and retail podium. Vertical elevators, corridors and pedestrian flow lines are set up for maximum convenience and accessibility, forming a multi-level traffic system.

"We hope to achieve a balance between user needs, architectural design to create a model of sustainable headquarters office development for Shenzhen." — Aedas Global Design Principal, Leo Liu.