Huaqiangbei is a Shenzhen icon. It is the place where Shenzhen tech culture manifests itself in the most striking way. In the last 30 years the area has seen a transformation from early sweatshop factories to the electronic parts wholesale market of the world. With Shenzhen rapidly changing its character from a production city to a knowledge center, Huaqiangbei is transforming as well. The masterplan for Huaqiangbei uses the unique Shenzhen identity of the place and extends it into the future. Using the organisational principle of the computer’s motherboard, different functional units are allocated in the area – education, business service, education, R&D, incubation and – still – wholesale and consumer consumption. A series of new ‘sensors’ and plugins add these uses and elevate the relatively flat and low area into the third dimension, turning it into an iconic ‘supercomputer’. These plugins also question traditional program allocation. A vertical factory offers new types of production space on higher floors. A cloud academy offers lifelong learning and education right on top of the maker environment of the old Huaqiangbei.
Client
Urban Renewal and Land Development Bureau of Futian District
