Inspired by the natural beauty of surrounding mountains and tranquil waterways, One Shenzhen Bay is a new mixed-use high-rise community that redefines urban eco-living in one of the world’s most densely-populated cities.
Rejecting the conventional “towers in the park” model where landscape merely serves as a backdrop, One Shenzhen Bay integrates seamlessly with its context. Public promenades weave through the site, creating fluid connections to neighboring developments. Landscape and architecture are layered into porous, interconnected volumes that form a “living building,” where high-performance landscapes manage stormwater, provide shade and insulation, and passively cool residents.
At the heart of the community, a central garden courtyard offers a serene retreat. Active amenities are deliberately placed on elevated roof gardens to preserve the courtyard’s tranquility. The streetscape enhances urban livability with cycle tracks, generous sidewalks, shaded walkways and porous paving that infiltrates stormwater locally.
Responding to Shenzhen’s extreme heat and heavy rains, the design incorporates a folded terrain that channels stormwater while insulating against heat. Greywater and stormwater are collected and recycled; reflecting pools provide passive cooling. To minimize energy use, moving water is limited to gravity-fed systems such as a water curtain and stepped water features. Rooftops are protected by trellises, green and blue roofs, and photovoltaic panels. Vegetated slopes, designed as deep planters rather than thin green walls, retain moisture, reduce irrigation demand and insulate the parking structure below. Locally sourced light-colored granite reduces the urban heat island effect, while mature trees shade both streets and interior spaces.
Durability and longevity are core to the project’s ecological contribution. Through the use of quality materials and thoughtful design, One Shenzhen Bay is built to endure as a community asset for generations.
The development also draws from Shenzhen’s cultural heritage of storytelling, ceramics, and wood carving. Collaborating with artists, the design integrates illuminated benches, sconces, and sculptures inspired by the colorful local tradition of shadow puppetry in the form of fish. The garden’s north wall features a high-relief wave motif derived from regional ceramics, while the upper decks showcase carved wood that follows the building’s contours, creating cascading lounge seating overlooking the pool deck.
