Architects: Atelier XI
Area: 467 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Zhang Chao
Manufacturers: An Steel, Dasso, Formica
Lead Architect: Chen Xi
Construction Administration: China Resources (Shenzhen) Urban Construction and Operation
Construction Company: Shenzhen Fangsen Garden Flower Co., Ltd.
Design Team: Zhu Zhu, Ye Fangnan, Huang Zhenfeng, Weng Cekai, Chen Shu, He Mengning, Zhang Jingxiang
Clients: Shenzhen Nanshan District Urban Management Bureau
Construction Documents: Inner Mongolia Northern Era Design Institute
City: Shenzhen
Country: China
Qiaochengbei Park Visitor Center by Atelier XI sits on a forest-covered hillside in Shenzhen, designed to preserve native trees while integrating two service buildings with minimal impact. The curved east building follows arcs around trees, while the west building, with trapezoidal forms, acts as “metal henges” aligning with the forest’s rhythm. Weathering steel blends with tree trunks, forming a protective rust layer over time. To address hot, humid conditions, louvers and perforated metal provide shade and ventilation, limiting air conditioning to three offices and two nursing rooms. Built on gentle slopes, the design uses earth sheltering for energy efficiency, while green roofs reduce runoff and heat absorption. The center integrates restrooms, vending machines, and drinking water stations, creating a functional and leisure-friendly space within nature.
The Qiaochengbei Park Visitor Center is located on a hillside covered with pristine forest, surrounded by high-density urban development in central Shenzhen.
The untouched nature of the forest posed a challenge for the architects in determining how to integrate essential public-service facilities into the park while preserving the original natural environment.
The architects proposed preserving all native trees by strategically interweaving two service buildings among them with minimal site disturbance. The curvilinear east building follows invisible arcs centered on the trees, allowing its winding form to flow naturally among the trunks and bushes. The west building consists of trapezoidal structures that are cantilevered, embedded, or placed on the ground, functioning as “metal henges” that establish directionality and harmonize with the forest’s natural rhythm.
To create a harmonious relationship between the new structures and the natural environment, weathering steel was selected for its graceful aging aesthetics. Initially matching the color of native tree trunks, the steel will gradually change over time, forming a protective rust layer that minimizes future facade maintenance.
Considering the hot and humid climate, the design incorporates vertical louvers and perforated metal into the facade to enhance shade and ventilation. This approach supports a passive environmental strategy, reducing dependence on air conditioning. With the exception of three offices and two nursing rooms, which are air-conditioned, all other public spaces rely on natural ventilation, supplemented by a deodorizing system to maintain the cleanliness and freshness of the restrooms.
Both structures, positioned on gentle slopes, are strategically oriented to minimize excavation. Partially embedded in the earth, they utilize earth sheltering to improve energy efficiency. Moreover, green roofs on both buildings help soften geometric edges, while also reducing runoff coefficients and lowering summer cooling loads.
Traditionally defined service spaces, including restrooms, vending machines, drinking water stations, nursing rooms, and rest areas for cleaners, are integrated as essential elements of the enclosed public space. This approach reimagines the visitor facilities and public toilets as a miniature village, functioning both as a practical amenity and a leisure space that seamlessly coexists with nature.
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Project Location
Address: Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
