Shenzhen Garden City

The Art of Life: Revitalising the Garden City

As an important economic development zone for Shenzhen, Shekou boasts the Prince Bay with modern facilities blend and natural scenery, making it a popular destination for many travelers. In the area, the Garden City is one of the urban icons.

Opened in 2006, this commercial complex, with a GFA of nearly 100,000 sq m, once became the largest shopping center in the area. Over time, the aging interior spaces could no longer provide immersive environments and fresh experiences for the new generation of consumers. Aedas Executive Director Ed Lam led the team to revitalise the Garden City to provide a contemporary retail destination filled with art, entertainment and leisure.

Enhancement of the circulation

The project consists of two interconnected buildings with significant spatial differences, stretching 280m from south to north. The original north entrance served as the main entrance and featured an express escalator, which obstructed the main atrium and affected the spatial experience on the first and second floors. The voids inside mall were excessively long, with a linear layout that created a lengthy one-way flow, leading to fatigue and poor shopping experience.

The original express escalator was removed and the locations of the escalators were rearranged. The enhancement improves the circulation and increases the brand visibility of the shop fronts. Bridges are designed to connect visitors from different zones to create areas for leisure and exhibition.

Reshaping the ‘Garden’ theme

‘The interior space of the original Garden City did not fully capture the essence of a “garden”. With this renovation, we aim to transform it into a community-oriented shopping centre that create a vibrant and inviting environment for the city.’ Ed shares.

In response to the surrounding developments and convenient transportation network, the design has transformed Garden City into a mixed-use hub to cater the emerging needs of the community. The ‘garden’ concept creates three major immersive zones: the iconic entrance with featured installation, the mixed-commercial retail lane and the high-end retail zone. These zones foster an immersive shopping atmosphere, allowing visitors to enjoy a harmonious blend of aesthetics and retail experience.

1. Iconic Entrance
The north entrance features an iconic conical space with glass panels over the ceiling and façade. By removing the original bulky express escalator, a spacious space is created as a welcoming entrance. Derived from the form of flowers, the columns are wrapped by light strips to create a petal-shaped ceiling feature. A hanging flower installation is designed on the ceiling to echo the flowery theme. Sunlight penetrates from the ceiling, evoking the vibrant blossoming flowers to welcome visitors.

2. Mixed-Commercial Retail Lane
The original atrium was narrow and packed with shops, weakening the brand visibility and providing inefficient circulation for visitors. The renovation creates public space including kids’ zone and an ice-skating rink, thereby reshaping the spatial layout and atmosphere. The bridges weave different zonings through the pedal-form design, leading visitors to other areas of the mall. The featured lighting offers a natural and soft light environment, as well as a clear direction guidance.

3. High-end Retail Zone
The south entrance connects to the metro exit and is composed of high-end retail stores extended from the main atrium in the north. The ceiling features metallic wave-like lines that evoke a vibrant flow of water, while the streamlined columns are natural extension of the ceiling. A colorful staircase is designed to connect the northern and southern areas, resembling the form of ripples and creating a relaxing atmosphere.

Humane Design
The renovation enhances the overall shopping experience, including the upgrade of restrooms and barrier-free access pathways to create a warm and vibrant city infused with humane design.

The transformation optimises the shopping experience while promoting relaxation and social interaction. The design reinforces Garden City’s role as a dynamic hub for retail and leisure.

Project: Shenzhen Garden City
Location: Shenzhen, China
Client: China Merchant Shekou Holdings
Gross Floor Area: 83,546 sq m
Completion year: 2024
Photographer: TAL

Façade Architect and Interior Designer: Aedas
Lighting Consultant: BPI
Furniture and Art Consultant: MONO
LDI: SZAD
Design Director: Ed Lam, Executive Director