Project

Qianhai Exchange Plaza will be a place for economic exchange. But it has the potential for much more. It can become the place for exchange on many different levels – a place of a holistic identity of what Exchange means in the 21st century.
+ Social Exchange: Economic exchange is based on people interacting. This needs places where people can meet in a formal or informal way – places where social exchange in the context of business and outside it can take place.
+ Cultural exchange: Qianhai and the exchange plaza are the heart of a new place that is supposed to foster exchange between Shenzhen and Hong Kong and between China and the world. Where people from everywhere meet it would be a missed opportunity not to use that place to enrich the cultural exchange.
+ Exchange of goods: Attractive places attract people and people attract more people. This creates the perfect condition for retail therefore making exchange plaza a major retail hub.
+ Transport exchange: The site is bordered by three metro stations and offers a bus terminal and ample parking space. Linking these facilities makes it a transport exchange.
+ Spatial Exchange: The place is a contrast to the surrounding environment. Bordered by relatively low towers with a park in the middle it is a counterpoint to the landmark towers around it. This creates tension and leads to a natural relationship between the void and the building mass.
Exchange on all levels will create what the place deserves. Like a galaxy dragging in program and people and uniting it to a whole and beautiful overall image, the Exchange plaza will be a place where social, economic, cultural and spatial encounters create an inspiring urban place - a real center of exchange!

Client

Qianhai Area Development Bureau

Program

600000 m2 Masterplan and Architectural design

Stages

2014 Competition
2015 Masterplan and Architectural design

Team

Markus Appenzeller, Pinar Bozoglan, Athena Papadodoulou, Anna Skachokova , Wing Yung, Milena Zaklanovic, Petar Zaklanovic
Partner: ARUP, Basic City, Urban Agency

Awards

2nd Prize in the Competition