towers and low buildings, top view
towers and low buildings, top view

New paradigms of urban regeneration. In China between tradition and innovation

Colossal heights, dynamism and urban integration surprisingly manage to coexist in the new Konka complex in Shenzhen. Kang QiaoJia Cheng develops a design model with an iconic impact on the skyline, preserving a human and natural scale inspired by the urban tradition of historic Chinese cities

Towers reaching up to 280 meters in glass, softened by a copper-clad mesh, alternate with low modules that engage in a dialogue with the rest of the city, making the urban intervention 'porous' and permeable. The use of greenery in the internal squares of the complex and on the terraces conveys the pleasantness of the constructed spaces that integrate the natural element, balancing the modern impact of the architecture and materials used

towers covered in copper

The dynamism combined with the perception of a humanly appreciable scale, despite the imposing size of the complex, is achieved through the skillful use of the natural terrain variations, creating architectural interplay of terraces and buildings of varying heights. This is further enhanced by the use of a repeated design module of 9x9 meters, which aims to characterize the identity of the building. The modular repetition allows for the recognition of the intervention's personality both up close and from a distance

towers covered in copper

With the Konka complex, a new paradigm of urban regeneration is imposed on the city, aimed at replacing the old model of enclosed shopping centers. There is a taller tower in the southwestern corner of the site, which houses the headquarters of the Konka Group, an important electronics manufacturing company. In the opposite corner, there is a residential tower that offers its residents a luxurious panoramic view of Shenzhen Bay. The complex then dematerializes and scales down to create a vibrant urban fabric that imaginatively harks back to the traditional character of historic Chinese cities, fragmented and permeable to the surrounding landscape

towers covered in copper

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