Grand Bayview Qianhai Residential Towers / Foster + Partners

Architects: Foster + Partners
Area: 96,000 m²
Year: 2025
Photography: Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Lead Architects: Luke Fox, Perry Ip
City/Location: Shenzhen
Country: China

Foster + Partners’ Grand Bayview Qianhai Residential Towers in Shenzhen introduces a new residential typology designed for urban professionals seeking a balance between privacy, wellness, and social engagement. The two 180-meter-high towers are arranged in a fan-shaped configuration to optimize daylight and views, while shared terraces and sky gardens encourage interaction across all levels. A landscaped podium and elevated connections extend the project into the surrounding urban fabric, blending private living with public green space. Prefabrication, lightweight steel construction, and reduced concrete use minimize embodied carbon, reflecting a commitment to sustainable building methods. The result is a forward-thinking model for high-density city living that merges community, flexibility, and environmental sensitivity.

Grand bayview qianhai residential towers / foster + partners

Grand Bayview Qianhai redefines residential architecture in one of China’s most dynamic urban centers. Conceived by Foster + Partners, the project proposes a new standard for professional living, where the demands of an intensive work life are balanced with opportunities for relaxation and community engagement. The towers’ fan-like geometry not only enhances natural light and privacy but also frames panoramic views over Shenzhen, creating a distinctive silhouette within the city’s skyline.

Luke Fox, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, explains that the design aims to “balance privacy and exclusivity with a sense of community.” This vision materializes in the project’s spatial hierarchy, which moves from tranquil private units to generous communal zones. At the ground level, a semi-public garden connects to adjacent greenbelts, extending nature into the urban core. A raised deck at the second level links directly to Shenzhen’s elevated walkway system, offering a continuous, pedestrian-friendly transition between the residential towers and the surrounding neighborhood.

As residents move vertically through the towers, greenery becomes a defining feature. Each level includes shared terraces framed by soft planting that enhances comfort and air quality. These landscaped thresholds between private and communal space foster casual encounters among residents while maintaining a sense of retreat. At higher elevations, the design culminates in triple-height sky gardens that provide panoramic city views and host activities such as yoga sessions and community events.

The towers’ integration of biophilic design reinforces their commitment to wellbeing. Abundant planting, natural ventilation, and carefully controlled daylight reduce dependence on mechanical systems while creating a calm and restorative environment. The visual continuity of greenery from the ground to the rooftop strengthens the connection between architecture and landscape, offering a rare sense of serenity within a dense urban context.

Sustainability is central to both the design and construction of Grand Bayview Qianhai. The towers employ lightweight steel for the superstructure, fabricated locally to limit transportation emissions. Prefabricated façade panels and modular construction techniques ensure precision, reduce waste, and shorten the building timeline. By minimizing the use of concrete, the architects achieved a significant reduction in embodied carbon, aligning the project with Shenzhen’s environmental goals.

Inside, flexibility defines the residential experience. Units are modular and can be combined or adapted to accommodate changing lifestyles, anticipating the evolving demands of future urban residents. This adaptability, together with the project’s sustainable framework, ensures longevity and resilience in a rapidly transforming metropolitan environment.

Perry Ip, Partner at Foster + Partners, describes the development as one where “health, wellbeing, and community are the cornerstones.” The Grand Bayview Qianhai Residential Towers stand as a testament to how architecture can humanize high-density living, combining refined design with environmental responsibility. Through its thoughtful integration of nature, social space, and adaptable living, the project sets a new benchmark for vertical communities in the twenty-first century.