Mecanoo and Meng Architects, together with Lola Landscape Architects have been selected as the winners of a highly competitive international design competition for the Shenzhen Guangming Scientist Valley in China. 

Set to be built to establish the first comprehensive national science centre in the Greater Bay Area, the project is attracting researchers and innovative talents from around the world to create a world-leading research and innovation hub.

The visionary design proposed by the winning consortium embraces the unique natural characteristics of the site, presenting an innovative concept called the 'Scientific Forest.' 

Image © WAX

Situated amidst the Lian Tang Reservoir, the Lou Village Reservoir, and the valley space between them, the Shenzhen Guangming Scientist Valley benefits from its prime location, surrounded by mountains and water, offering an ecological advantage.

Led by the distinguished firms Mecanoo Architects and Meng Architects, in collaboration with Lola Landscape Architects, the design team introduced the "Valley of Coexistence" concept in their winning proposal.

This concept revolves around the strategy of "temporal restoration and selective construction," with time as a vital element. 

Image courtesy of Mecanoo

The plan incorporates a diverse public activity program known as '1001 Forest Gardens' and three interdependent components: a public loop, a research centre, and a natural perimeter layer. 

The objective is to foster collaboration between the public and scientists, nurturing the growth of the forest and promoting coexistence within the valley.

Image courtesy of Mecanoo

Encompassing an area of approximately 1.2 square kilometres, the Shenzhen Guangming Scientist Valley will serve as the core of an international science and technology innovation centre spanning Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. 

With its strategic location within a major scientific cluster and the surrounding natural elements, the project is set to become a global symbol of scientific advancement and innovation.

Image © WAX

Image © WAX

Image © WAX

Image courtesy of Mecanoo

Mecanoo also revealed plans for a future-oriented mixed-use development that aspires to become significant for the whole city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The firm completed a villa clad in multicoloured glazed tiles evoking "transitions in the landscape" in Schoorl, the Netherlands. 

Project facts

Size: 20,400 m2

Status: Ongoing

Project Design: 2022 - 2023

Client: Shenzhen Guangming Science City Development Investment Co., Ltd

Design Team: Mecanoo, Meng and Lola Landscape Architects.

Awards: 1st Prize Competition

Top image © Silkroad.

Renderings © Mecanoo, WAX.

> via Mecanoo 

concept Lola Landscape Architects Mecanoo Shenzhen